Minimum Wage Preemption: Charleston vs North Charleston
How do minimum wage preemption rules compare between Charleston, SC and North Charleston, SC?
Charleston has fewer restrictions than North Charleston.
Charleston, SC
Charleston County
Charleston cannot set a local minimum wage. SC §6-1-130, enacted in 2002, blocks all South Carolina cities and counties from establishing a wage floor above the federal $7.25 baseline.
View full Charleston rules →North Charleston, SC
Charleston County
South Carolina preempts local governments from setting minimum wage rates above the federal floor under Section 6-1-130 of the state code.
View full North Charleston rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Charleston | North Charleston |
|---|---|---|
| State preemption | SC §6-1-130 (2002) | - |
| Federal minimum | $7.25 per hour | - |
| Tipped minimum | $2.13 per hour | - |
| Last federal raise | 2009 | - |
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Charleston FAQ
Could Charleston voters approve a $15 minimum wage?
No. South Carolina §6-1-130 preempts local action, so a Charleston ballot measure raising the minimum wage would be void on enactment regardless of voter support.
Does Charleston pay city employees more than the minimum?
Yes. The City of Charleston as employer sets its own pay scale well above $7.25 for municipal staff, but it cannot mandate higher rates for private-sector employers in the city.
North Charleston FAQ
Can a South Carolina city raise the minimum wage?
No, Section 6-1-130 preempts local minimum wage ordinances for private employers.
What is the current minimum wage in South Carolina?
The federal floor of seven dollars and twenty-five cents per hour applies, with no state-level wage.
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