Chief Executive salary in South Carolina
Chief Executives in South Carolina earn a median of $168,840 a year ($81.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $49,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $393,490 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $213,990. South Carolina ranks 33rd of 46 states for chief executives pay. There are 0.76 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $211,720, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,760 | $23.92 |
| 25th percentile | $109,000 | $52.40 |
| Median | $168,840 | $81.17 |
| 75th percentile | $258,950 | $124.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $393,490 | $189.18 |
| Average (mean) | $211,720 | $101.79 |
Half of chief executives earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,070 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,035 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,493.85 |
| Weekly | $3,246.92 |
| Hourly | $81.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chief Executive salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $329,030 | 740 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $197,540 | 100 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $197,220 | 290 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $194,350 | 100 |
| Columbia, SC | $176,890 | 320 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $174,230 | 60 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $166,420 | 300 |
| Florence, SC | $160,660 | 60 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $144,980 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $106,080 | $51.00 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $105,620 | $50.78 |
| Sales Manager | $131,080 | $63.02 |
| Financial Manager | $136,160 | $65.46 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $126,880 | $61.00 |
| Construction Manager | $108,110 | $51.98 |
| Food Service Manager | $66,190 | $31.82 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $102,440 | — |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $160,860 | $77.34 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Marketing Manager | $143,290 | $68.89 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $106,860 | $51.37 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $169,040 | $81.27 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $95,570 | $45.95 |
More: Management Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in South Carolina?
The median salary for chief executives in South Carolina is $168,840 a year, or $81.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $49,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $393,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of chief executives in South Carolina earn at least $393,490 a year. The top 25% earn $258,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $49,760 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $109,000 or less.
How many chief executives work in South Carolina?
About 1,740 chief executives are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.