Average salary in South Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
The average salary in South Carolina is $59,280 a year and the median is $46,490, across 2,305,080 jobs (BLS May 2025). South Carolina ranks #43 of 51 for average pay.
| Average (mean) salary | $59,280 |
| Median salary | $46,490 |
| Median hourly wage | $22.35 |
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $27,070 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $103,010 |
| Take-home on the average salary (single, 2026) | $48,197 |
Highest-paying jobs in South Carolina
- Physician: $274,480
- Family Medicine Physician: $239,200
- Architectural and Engineering Manager: $169,040
- Chief Executive: $168,840
- Computer and Information Systems Manager: $160,860
- Dentist: $158,640
- Airline Pilot: $143,580
- Marketing Manager: $143,290
- Financial Manager: $136,160
- Pharmacist: $135,700
- Computer Network Architect: $134,990
- Purchasing Manager: $131,720
- Natural Sciences Manager: $131,140
- Sales Manager: $131,080
- Manager: $129,960
- Software Engineer: $129,450
- Industrial Production Manager: $126,880
- Administrative Services Manager: $124,320
- Human Resources Manager: $124,290
- Nurse Practitioner: $123,290
Most common jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Employed | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salesperson | 67,310 | $30,690 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | 65,070 | $27,520 |
| Laborer and Freight | 56,700 | $37,530 |
| Cashier | 56,550 | $28,530 |
| Customer Service Representative | 51,000 | $38,860 |
| Registered Nurse | 49,750 | $82,360 |
| Waiter and Waitress | 47,200 | $18,370 |
| Office Clerk | 42,250 | $36,840 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | 42,150 | $45,500 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | 41,800 | $36,020 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | 40,750 | $30,110 |
| Truck Driver | 34,170 | $51,130 |
| General and Operations Manager | 32,230 | $106,080 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant | 30,180 | $44,880 |
| Janitor and Cleaner | 30,100 | $31,180 |
Estimate your own paycheck with the South Carolina paycheck calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all occupations). Highest-paying list covers the 300 largest occupations nationally.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in South Carolina?
$59,280 a year (mean of all jobs), with a median of $46,490 ($22.35/hour), per BLS May 2025. South Carolina ranks #43 of 51.
What are the highest-paying jobs in South Carolina?
Physician ($274,480), Family Medicine Physician ($239,200), Architectural and Engineering Manager ($169,040), among the 300 most common occupations.
What is a good salary in South Carolina?
Earning more than the median of $46,490 puts you above half of South Carolina workers; the top 10% earn over $103,010.