Average and median wage in South Carolina
Half of the 2,305,080 workers in South Carolina earn less than $46,490 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $59,280, or $28.50 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $27,070 or less and the top 10% $103,010 or more. The average is 15% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 9% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $27K10th
- $35K25th
- $46KMedian
- $70K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | South Carolina per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,280 | $28.50 | $69,770 |
| Median | $46,490 | $22.35 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $27,070 | $13.01 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $34,630 | $16.65 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $70,340 | $33.82 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $103,010 | $49.52 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in South Carolina
- Charleston$64,260
- Greenville$59,260
- Columbia$59,030
- Spartanburg$57,570
- Florence$55,860
- Hilton Head Island$54,860
- Sumter$53,370
- Myrtle Beach$49,710
Map of South Carolina metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $64,260 | $49,150 | $51,868 | 101 | $435,877 |
| Greenville | $59,260 | $46,580 | $48,182 | 93 | $315,285 |
| Columbia | $59,030 | $46,430 | $48,012 | 94 | $256,154 |
| Spartanburg | $57,570 | $47,650 | $46,936 | 91 | $279,792 |
| Florence | $55,860 | $43,520 | $45,676 | 87 | $193,792 |
| Hilton Head Island | $54,860 | $43,850 | $44,938 | 98 | $527,324 |
| Sumter | $53,370 | $42,890 | $43,840 | 88 | $210,445 |
| Myrtle Beach | $49,710 | $37,930 | $41,142 | 94 | $340,239 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in South Carolina
- Surgeons, All Other · Greenville$511,850
- Physicians, All Other · Columbia$346,290
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Charleston$340,400
- Physicians, All Other · Hilton Head Island$335,680
- Anesthesiologists · Columbia$318,040
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists · Columbia$306,490
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Florence$305,600
- Physicians, All Other · Florence$304,170
- Family Medicine Physicians · Spartanburg$301,040
- Family Medicine Physicians · Hilton Head Island$298,270
Most common jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 67,310 | $33,790 | $30,690 | $35,750 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 65,070 | $27,840 | $27,520 | $30,760 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 56,700 | $39,140 | $37,530 | $40,950 |
| Cashiers | 56,550 | $28,840 | $28,530 | $30,800 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 51,000 | $42,390 | $38,860 | $45,570 |
| Registered Nurses | 49,750 | $87,670 | $82,360 | $100,700 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 47,200 | $25,900 | $18,370 | $28,460 |
| Office Clerks, General | 42,250 | $37,970 | $36,840 | $41,200 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 42,150 | $47,940 | $45,500 | $60,020 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 41,800 | $36,880 | $36,020 | $38,020 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in South Carolina
South Carolina income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply South Carolina's 2026 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
South Carolina paycheck calculator
- $100K salary after taxes in every stateWhere South Carolina ranks for take-home pay
- Median vs. average salaryWhy South Carolina's median is below its average
Cost of living: South Carolina vs other states
South Carolina at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in South Carolina: questions
What is the average salary in South Carolina?
$59,280 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 15% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in South Carolina?
$46,490 a year: half of South Carolina workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in South Carolina?
$28.50 an hour on average, and $22.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in South Carolina pays the most?
Charleston, with an average of $64,260 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is South Carolina expensive to live in?
BEA puts South Carolina prices 6% below the U.S. average (price parity 93.7). Within the state, Charleston 101, Hilton Head Island 98, Columbia 94 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in South Carolina.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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