Registered Nurse salary in South Carolina
Registered Nurses in South Carolina earn a median of $82,360 a year ($39.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 49,750 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,520 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $97,550. South Carolina ranks 39th of 51 states for registered nurses pay. There are 22 registered nurses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $87,670, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for registered nurses in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,860 | $32.14 |
| 25th percentile | $77,320 | $37.17 |
| Median | $82,360 | $39.60 |
| 75th percentile | $97,230 | $46.75 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,520 | $51.21 |
| Average (mean) | $87,670 | $42.15 |
Half of registered nurses 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 | $6,863.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,431.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,167.69 |
| Weekly | $1,583.85 |
| Hourly | $39.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Registered Nurse salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $92,800 | 9,760 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $90,620 | 27,010 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $87,760 | 6,880 |
| Sumter, SC | $86,260 | 670 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $82,360 | 4,440 |
| Columbia, SC | $81,920 | 9,400 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $81,400 | 9,730 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $81,400 | 1,410 |
| Florence, SC | $81,170 | 3,120 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $80,640 | 3,150 |
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $140,270 |
| Hawaii | $136,320 |
| Oregon | $129,010 |
| Washington | $124,200 |
| Alaska | $109,480 |
| New York | $109,440 |
| New Jersey | $106,500 |
| Massachusetts | $104,550 |
| Nevada | $103,670 |
| Connecticut | $102,740 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $123,290 | $59.28 |
| Pharmacist | $135,700 | $65.24 |
| Physicians, All Other | $274,480 | $131.96 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,330 | $48.72 |
| Dental Hygienist | $84,340 | $40.55 |
| Physician Assistant | $122,490 | $58.89 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $90,530 | $43.52 |
| Dentists, General | $158,640 | $76.27 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $77,740 | $37.38 |
| Occupational Therapist | $101,130 | $48.62 |
| Veterinarian | $122,130 | $58.72 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $359,500 | $172.84 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $239,200 | $115.00 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $265,480 | $127.64 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1141. 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 registered nurse make in South Carolina?
The median salary for registered nurses in South Carolina is $82,360 a year, or $39.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,860 for the lowest-paid 10% to $106,520 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid registered nurses make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of registered nurses in South Carolina earn at least $106,520 a year. The top 25% earn $97,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for registered nurses in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,860 a year, and a quarter of registered nurses earn $77,320 or less.
How many registered nurses work in South Carolina?
About 49,750 registered nurses are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.