Highest-paying jobs in Charleston

Stacker collected information on the highest-paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC, using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by average annual salary with information up to date as of May 2019.

In Charleston, the annual mean wage is $47,800 or 10.6% lower than national mean of $53,490, while the highest-paying occupation makes $271,340. Read on to see which jobs make the list.

1 / 50

#50. Computer programmers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $80,900
- #130 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,610
- Employment: 199,540
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($116,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($113,990)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($113,760)

2 / 50

#49. Biological science teachers, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $82,140
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,700
- Employment: 53,090
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($143,420)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($142,610)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($140,810)

3 / 50

#48. Ship engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $85,450
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,540
- Employment: 8,410
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($100,020)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($94,200)

4 / 50

#47. Network and computer systems administrators

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $87,190
- #53 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,410
- Employment: 354,450
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,440)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($112,910)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($109,790)

5 / 50

#46. Database administrators and architects

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $87,770
- #103 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,110
- Employment: 125,460
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,580)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($116,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($114,960)

6 / 50

#45. Materials engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $87,930
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $97,890
- Employment: 26,820
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($127,690)
--- Boulder, CO ($127,260)
--- Albuquerque, NM ($126,970)

7 / 50

#44. Radiation therapists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $87,940
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Entry level education requirements: Associate’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)

8 / 50

#43. Industrial engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $88,300
- #150 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,270

National
- Annual mean salary: $92,660
- Employment: 291,710
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($131,850)
--- Billings, MT ($124,350)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($121,940)

9 / 50

#42. Physician assistants

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $89,400
- #288 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)

10 / 50

#41. Mechanical engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $89,640
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 680

National
- Annual mean salary: $93,540
- Employment: 306,990
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($125,640)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($123,270)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($120,950)

11 / 50

#40. Operations research analysts

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $90,800
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,600
- Employment: 99,680
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($137,530)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($122,310)
--- Salinas, CA ($121,050)

12 / 50

#39. Computer network architects

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $91,490
- #164 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 152,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($152,400)
--- Dover-Durham, NH-ME ($151,650)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,100)

13 / 50

#38. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $93,370
- #176 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,310

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,620
- Employment: 1,406,870
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($145,730)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($145,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($134,090)

14 / 50

#37. Information security analysts

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $93,640
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 330

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,210
- Employment: 125,570
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,040)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($127,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)

15 / 50

#36. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $94,880
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,340
- Employment: 271,020
- Entry level education requirements: Master's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Modesto, CA ($150,080)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($143,890)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,820)

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16 / 50

#35. Electrical engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $95,410
- #137 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,480
- Employment: 185,570
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($138,450)
--- Salinas, CA ($129,850)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($128,080)

17 / 50

#34. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $96,880
- #60 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $121,620
- Employment: 201,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jacksonville, FL ($202,430)
--- Jackson, MS ($185,500)
--- Kalamazoo-Portage, MI ($184,130)

18 / 50

#33. Natural sciences managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $98,350
- #119 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,450
- Employment: 67,720
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($222,530)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($208,910)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($206,710)

19 / 50

#32. Chemical engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $98,620
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,090
- Employment: 30,120
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($162,330)
--- Midland, TX ($152,170)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($150,680)

20 / 50

#31. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $98,820
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($151,260)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($144,220)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($139,860)

21 / 50

#30. Lawyers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $100,840
- #248 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,690

National
- Annual mean salary: $145,300
- Employment: 657,170
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($218,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,910)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($179,590)

22 / 50

#29. Computer hardware engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $101,100
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 67,880
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($161,210)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($149,740)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($142,820)

23 / 50

#28. Education administrators, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $102,220
- #121 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,400
- Employment: 144,880
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Ithaca, NY ($186,580)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($180,620)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($170,400)

24 / 50

#27. Nurse practitioners

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $102,370
- #267 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)

25 / 50

#26. English language and literature teachers, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $103,600
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,180
- Employment: 67,930
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($138,190)
--- Fresno, CA ($128,540)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($121,070)

26 / 50

#25. Sales managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $107,320
- #287 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760

National
- Annual mean salary: $141,690
- Employment: 402,600
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($195,220)
--- Trenton, NJ ($178,020)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($175,500)

27 / 50

#24. Electronics engineers, except computer

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $108,440
- #50 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $110,210
- Employment: 128,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($141,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($132,600)
--- Austin-Round Rock, TX ($130,890)

28 / 50

#23. Construction managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $109,160
- #70 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,000
- Employment: 293,380
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ ($160,500)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($148,140)
--- Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ ($146,820)

29 / 50

#22. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $110,010
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($110,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($107,190)
--- San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR ($103,530)

30 / 50

#21. General and operations managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $111,790
- #141 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,030
- Employment: 2,400,280
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor's degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($189,060)
--- Trenton, NJ ($173,050)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,160)

31 / 50

#20. Nuclear engineers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $112,710
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $120,700
- Employment: 15,850
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($146,420)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($145,330)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,270)

32 / 50

#19. Purchasing managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $115,090
- #95 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,400
- Employment: 72,100
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($171,560)
--- Morgantown, WV ($163,830)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($160,620)

33 / 50

#18. Medical and health services managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $116,140
- #93 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,160
- Employment: 394,910
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($163,280)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($159,190)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,570)

34 / 50

#17. Training and development managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $116,820
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $123,470
- Employment: 38,510
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($168,900)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($167,850)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($152,380)

35 / 50

#16. Pharmacists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $117,640
- #312 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,130

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)

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36 / 50

#15. Human resources managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $117,720
- #116 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $129,570
- Employment: 154,800
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($196,900)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($174,390)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($170,070)

37 / 50

#14. Marketing managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $121,050
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $149,200
- Employment: 263,680
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($199,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($188,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($183,460)

38 / 50

#13. Industrial production managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $122,670
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,110
- Employment: 185,790
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Florence, SC ($158,000)
--- Boulder, CO ($149,990)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($149,500)

39 / 50

#12. Architectural and engineering managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $123,450
- #225 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $152,930
- Employment: 194,250
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($203,310)
--- Amarillo, TX ($198,010)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($188,210)

40 / 50

#11. Commercial pilots

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $124,430
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($164,720)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($139,920)
--- Jackson, MS ($136,010)

41 / 50

#10. Financial managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $128,660
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 930

National
- Annual mean salary: $147,530
- Employment: 654,790
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($208,770)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($203,430)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($182,190)

42 / 50

#9. Business teachers, postsecondary

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $138,710
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,440
- Employment: 83,920
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- College Station-Bryan, TX ($177,360)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($154,210)
--- Tuscaloosa, AL ($141,870)

43 / 50

#8. Optometrists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $142,700
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)

44 / 50

#7. Computer and information systems managers

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $143,230
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,390
- Employment: 433,960
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($215,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($201,960)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($196,290)

45 / 50

#6. Dentists, general

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $145,260
- #249 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)

46 / 50

#5. Nurse anesthetists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $165,620
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Entry level education requirements: Master’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)

47 / 50

#4. Chief executives

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $206,990
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 520

National
- Annual mean salary: $193,850
- Employment: 205,890
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($270,040)
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($264,330)
--- Midland, TX ($258,760)

48 / 50

#3. Family medicine physicians

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $210,290
- #165 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)

49 / 50

#2. General internal medicine physicians

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $258,700
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $201,440
- Employment: 44,610
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sioux Falls, SD ($282,610)
--- Rapid City, SD ($280,990)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($280,500)

50 / 50

#1. Anesthesiologists

Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Annual mean salary: $271,340
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $261,730
- Employment: 31,010
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($283,660)
--- Tulsa, OK ($281,080)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($276,350)