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Elementary Education Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026

Elementary Education degree analysis for Charleston, SC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$52K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$57K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

6.7 yrs

in Charleston

Cost of Living

103

index (100 = avg)

Elementary Education in Charleston, SC Overview

Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Elementary Education programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/month. Although national enrollment in Elementary Education has been declining, graduates with skills in Lesson Planning and Classroom Management remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Charleston is approximately $51,500.

Category

Education

Local Colleges

9

Public Tuition

$13,659/yr

Private Tuition

$29,969/yr

Room & Board

$12,112/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$7,774/yr

Unemployment

6.2%

Graduation Rate

62%

Elementary Education Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Charleston's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$51,500(+$1,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$56,650(+$1,650 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$63,860(+$1,860 vs national)

Note: National average Elementary Education salary: $50,000 starting, $55,000 mid-career, $62,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.

Elementary Education ROI Calculator for Charleston

Estimate your return on investment for a Elementary Education degree using local Charleston tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $13,659 | Private avg: $29,969

Charleston avg aid: $7,774/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$103,084

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$15,450

vs HS diploma in Charleston

ROI Payback Period

6.7 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Charleston

$185,316

Lifetime earnings premium ($288,400) minus total education cost ($103,084)

Student Loan Payoff for Elementary Education in Charleston

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$103,084
Monthly Payment$1,170
Total Interest$37,376
% of Monthly Income27%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$103,084
Monthly Payment$2,017
Total Interest$17,933
Interest Savings$19,442

Colleges in Charleston for Elementary Education

College of Charleston

public

$12,622/yr

$50,488 total

The Citadel

public

$14,696/yr

$58,784 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Trident Technical College

$5,064/yr

Top Employers for Elementary Education in Charleston

Charleston offers opportunities in School districts, Universities, EdTech companies for Elementary Education graduates. National top employers in this field include:

Public SchoolsPrivate SchoolsCharter SchoolsDepartment of EducationEducation Non-Profits

Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for Education

School districts

Universities

EdTech companies

Non-profits

Training organizations

Common Elementary Education Job Titles

Elementary TeacherCurriculum DeveloperInstructional Coach

Elementary Education Degree in Charleston — FAQ

Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.

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Compare Elementary Education ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Charleston.

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