South Carolina Median
$41,160
per year
Hourly Rate
$19.79
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $45,690
State Rank
#37 of 51
12,110 employed here
How much does a Medical Assistant make in South Carolina?
A Medical Assistant working in South Carolina earns a median salary of $41,160 per year, or about $19.79 per hour. That is 10% below the national median of $45,690 for this occupation.
Within South Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $34,730 while the top 10% make $49,110 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $37,290 and $46,950 a year.
Medical Assistant salary range in South Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,730 | $16.70 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $37,290 | $17.93 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $41,160 | $19.79 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $46,950 | $22.57 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,110 | $23.61 |
|
How South Carolina compares
South Carolina ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories for Medical Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Medical Assistant salary in other states
Washington $59,290Alaska $52,560District of Columbia $51,050Minnesota $50,480Oregon $50,410California $49,660Massachusetts $49,460Wisconsin $48,680Hawaii $48,410Colorado $48,400New Hampshire $48,020New York $48,000Maine $47,580Connecticut $47,430Nebraska $47,370Vermont $47,250New Jersey $47,210Rhode Island $47,190Montana $46,820Maryland $46,410Illinois $46,090North Dakota $45,980Arizona $45,940Iowa $45,480Utah $45,360Nevada $45,200North Carolina $45,140Indiana $45,110Virginia $44,740Idaho $44,700Delaware $44,490Pennsylvania $43,920Florida $43,680Ohio $42,810South Dakota $41,870Georgia $41,600Wyoming $40,920Missouri $40,440Michigan $39,870Tennessee $39,570Texas $39,520Kansas $39,510Kentucky $39,270New Mexico $39,230Oklahoma $38,750Arkansas $37,760West Virginia $37,180Louisiana $36,320Alabama $36,100Mississippi $35,360
Working as a Medical Assistant in South Carolina
Nationally, about 818,000 people work as Medical Assistants in the United States. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
Considering a move? Compare South Carolina pay ($41,160) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Medical Assistant make in South Carolina?
The median Medical Assistant salary in South Carolina is $41,160 per year, or about $19.79 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $34,730 at the entry level to $49,110 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Carolina pay compare to the national average?
South Carolina pays Medical Assistants about 10% less than the national median of $45,690. South Carolina ranks 37th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Carolina a good state for Medical Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $41,160 a year. About 12,110 Medical Assistants are employed in South Carolina. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in South Carolina?
The highest-paying occupations in South Carolina include General Internal Medicine Physician ($359,500), Neurologist ($352,680), Emergency Medicine Physician ($341,960), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Medical Assistant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.