Maritime Officer.
North Charleston.
$74,000
median salary, 10% below the national average
$56,000 to $97,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what Maritime Officers actually make in North Charleston: $56,000 at the 25th percentile, $74,000 at the median, and $97,000 at the 75th. That is 10% below the national average. North Charleston is the industrial and manufacturing heart of the Lowcountry, home to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner assembly facility and the Charleston Naval Complex. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $67,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$48,000
to $59,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$63,000
to $78,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$81,000
to $96,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$93,000
to $115,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $19,000 to the total package.
Base
$74,000
Equity
$11,000
Bonus
$7,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $93,000
How North Charleston compares
North Charleston, SC
$74,000
Cost of living: 6% below average
National Average
$82,000
North Charleston is $8,000 below
Maritime Officer salary by city
Salary by role in North Charleston
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Maritime Officer offer in North Charleston, understand the terrain. North Charleston is the industrial and manufacturing heart of the Lowcountry, home to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner assembly facility and the Charleston Naval Complex. The area has attracted significant defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing investment. Growth in logistics driven by the expanding port continues to drive employment. Vessel type, license grade, and trade route determine compensation. Officers on tankers and LNG carriers earn premiums over general cargo ships. Deep-sea international routes pay more than coastal or inland assignments, and unionized positions typically offer stronger wage scales.
Third mates and third engineers start at $55,000 to $62,000. Second officers advance to $70,000 to $85,000 with experience and additional endorsements. Chief mates earn $90,000 to $108,000, while masters and chief engineers on large vessels can reach $120,000 to $160,000. In North Charleston, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Maritime officers receive room and board while aboard, which effectively increases total compensation by $15,000 to $25,000 annually. Union contracts often include pension contributions, medical coverage, and paid leave rotations of equal time on and off. And on the tax side: south Carolina's top income tax rate is 6.4%. North Charleston has no city income tax. The moderate state rate is offset by affordable housing and strong employer demand. When someone quotes you $74,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight aerospace manufacturing experience. Boeing and defense contractors in North Charleston pay nationally competitive rates for specialized engineering skills. The range for Maritime Officers in North Charleston runs from $56,000 to $97,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A Instructional Designer in North Charleston earns $75,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in North Charleston is Distinguished Engineer at $301,000
Common questions.
Maritime Officer salary in other cities
Other salaries in North Charleston
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.