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Registered Nurses Salary in South Carolina

What Registered Nurses earn in South Carolina, labor market by labor market, and what is left after taxes and living costs in 16 counties.

Average in SC
$86,605
local median wages, weighted
Rank among states
28 of 43
published states
Workers in state
79,540
BLS employment estimate
Wage areas
4
16 counties

Pay by labor market in South Carolina

Registered Nurses pay by wage area in South Carolina
Wage areaMedian wageTake-home payMargin per yearLargest county
Charleston-North Charleston, SC$92,800$69,690$41,926Charleston County, SC
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$90,620$68,291$41,620York County, SC
Columbia, SC$81,920$62,710$42,207Richland County, SC
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC$81,400$62,376$38,777Greenville County, SC

Counties ranked by what is left after the basics

Registered Nurses in South Carolina counties, by yearly margin
#CountyMedian wageTake-home payMargin per year
1Chester County, SC$90,620$68,291$51,100
2Lancaster County, SC$90,620$68,291$49,516
3Kershaw County, SC$81,920$62,710$45,603
4Laurens County, SC$81,400$62,376$44,297
5Anderson County, SC$81,400$62,376$43,241
6Richland County, SC$81,920$62,710$42,207
7Lexington County, SC$81,920$62,710$42,207
8Fairfield County, SC$81,920$62,710$42,207
9Saluda County, SC$81,920$62,710$42,207
10Calhoun County, SC$81,920$62,710$42,207
11Charleston County, SC$92,800$69,690$41,926
12Berkeley County, SC$92,800$69,690$41,926
13Dorchester County, SC$92,800$69,690$41,926
14York County, SC$90,620$68,291$41,620
15Greenville County, SC$81,400$62,376$38,777
16Pickens County, SC$81,400$62,376$38,777

Registered Nurses pay in South Carolina

The employment-weighted average of local median wages for Registered Nurses in South Carolina is $86,605, based on 79,540 workers. Among the 43 states with published data, that ranks number 28. The BLS national median for the occupation is $97,550, so South Carolina averages 11.2% below it.

Inside South Carolina, pay depends on the labor market. The highest local median is $92,800 in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC area and the lowest is $81,400 in Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC, a difference of $11,400 across 4 wage areas.

Cost of living for Registered Nurses in South Carolina

We compare 16 South Carolina counties after federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics: a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline. Chester County, SC leaves the largest yearly margin, $51,100. Pickens County, SC leaves the smallest, $38,777. The median wage covers all four basics in 16 of the 16 counties.

Registered Nurses in other states

The states with the highest average local median wages for Registered Nurses are California ($151,152), Oregon ($126,881), Washington ($123,996) and New Jersey ($113,690).

Frequently asked questions: Registered Nurses in South Carolina

How much do Registered Nurses earn in South Carolina?

The employment-weighted average of local median wages is $86,605, from $81,400 to $92,800 depending on the labor market.

Which South Carolina county is best for Registered Nurses?

Chester County, SC leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes and the four basics ($51,100). Lancaster County, SC follows at $49,516.