South Carolina Median
$82,360
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.60
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-16% vs US median
US median $97,550
State Rank
#39 of 51
49,750 employed here
How much does a Registered Nurse make in South Carolina?
Registered Nurses in South Carolina take home a median of $82,360 annually — roughly $39.60 an hour — which runs 16% below the national median of $97,550.
Within South Carolina, entry-level pay starts around $66,860 while the top 10% make $106,520 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,320 and $97,230 a year.
Registered Nurse salary range in South Carolina
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,860 | $32.14 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $77,320 | $37.17 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $82,360 | $39.60 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $97,230 | $46.75 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,520 | $51.21 |
|
How South Carolina compares
South Carolina ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories for Registered Nurse pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Registered Nurse salary in other states
California $140,270Hawaii $136,320Oregon $129,010Washington $124,200Alaska $109,480New York $109,440New Jersey $106,500Massachusetts $104,550Nevada $103,670Connecticut $102,740District of Columbia $102,540Minnesota $101,510Rhode Island $100,640Colorado $100,260Maryland $99,790New Hampshire $99,700Delaware $99,520Arizona $99,500Vermont $97,460Pennsylvania $96,430Illinois $95,990Texas $95,970Wisconsin $95,530New Mexico $94,340Michigan $94,300Virginia $93,600Georgia $93,550Idaho $92,460Maine $86,990Montana $85,280Nebraska $84,730Utah $84,600North Carolina $84,350Florida $84,190Wyoming $83,760Indiana $83,500Oklahoma $82,920Ohio $82,510Missouri $81,780Tennessee $81,500Kentucky $81,040North Dakota $80,730Louisiana $80,230West Virginia $80,130Kansas $79,320Arkansas $78,940Iowa $78,630South Dakota $78,060Mississippi $77,090Alabama $77,080
Working as a Registered Nurse in South Carolina
Nationally, about 3,380,000 people work as Registered Nurses in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare South Carolina pay ($82,360) 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 Registered Nurse make in South Carolina?
The median Registered Nurse salary in South Carolina is $82,360 per year, or about $39.60 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $66,860 at the entry level to $106,520 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Carolina pay compare to the national average?
South Carolina pays Registered Nurses about 16% less than the national median of $97,550. South Carolina ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Carolina a good state for Registered Nurses?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $82,360 a year. About 49,750 Registered Nurses 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 Registered Nurse salary report
Related salaries
$82,280
median pay · 140,000 employed
$68,380
median pay · 112,000 employed
$132,300
median pay · 323,000 employed
$65,790
median pay · 35,000 employed
$64,650
median pay · 117,000 employed
$68,020
median pay · 38,000 employed
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.