Model Vulnerability Analyst.
Charleston.
$162,000
median salary, 1% above the national average
$121,000 to $212,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what Model Vulnerability Analysts actually make in Charleston: $121,000 at the 25th percentile, $162,000 at the median, and $212,000 at the 75th. That is 1% above the national average. Charleston is one of the South's fastest growing tech hubs, with Boeing, Volvo, and a wave of software companies establishing operations. 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 $146,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$105,000
to $130,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$138,000
to $170,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$178,000
to $211,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$203,000
to $251,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $35,000 to the total package.
Base
$162,000
Equity
$19,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $197,000
How Charleston compares
Charleston, SC
$162,000
Cost of living: 2% below average
National Average
$160,000
Charleston is $2,000 above
Model Vulnerability Analyst salary by city
Salary by role in Charleston
What you should know
If you are interviewing for Model Vulnerability Analyst roles in Charleston, here is what you are walking into. Charleston is one of the South's fastest growing tech hubs, with Boeing, Volvo, and a wave of software companies establishing operations. The city's port drives significant logistics employment. Charleston's quality of life, moderate costs, and growing tech scene attract relocating professionals from across the country. Compensation scales with the breadth of vulnerability classes analyzed and depth of model architecture knowledge. Analysts who can identify weaknesses in transformer, diffusion, and reinforcement learning models earn premiums. Experience with automated vulnerability scanning for ML models and ability to communicate risk to non-technical stakeholders drives top salary offers.
Junior vulnerability analysts begin at $100,000 to $120,000 running standard model evaluations. Mid-level analysts conducting deep architecture analysis earn $140,000 to $160,000. Senior analysts leading vulnerability research programs reach $185,000 to $210,000, with principal researchers exceeding $240,000. In 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. Bonuses of 12 to 20% are standard, with some organizations offering discovery bonuses for novel vulnerability classes. Equity at AI security companies adds meaningful value, typically 15 to 25% of base salary in vesting grants. And on the tax side: south Carolina's top income tax rate is 6.4%. Charleston has no city income tax. The state rate is moderate, and the affordable cost of living keeps net pay competitive. When someone quotes you $162,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight the Boeing and Volvo ecosystem when negotiating. Manufacturing and engineering employers in Charleston benchmark against national aerospace pay scales. The range for Model Vulnerability Analysts in Charleston runs from $121,000 to $212,000. 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 Healthcare AI Integrator in Charleston earns $163,000 (1% more)
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Common questions.
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