SOC 31-9091 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dental Assistants — South Carolina
South Carolina · 8 metro areas compared
At $47,320, median pay for Dental Assistants in South Carolina tracks the national median of $48,070 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $47,320, median pay for Dental Assistants in South Carolina tracks the national median of $48,070 closely. Pay ranges from under $37,070 at the tenth percentile to more than $58,480 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $43,000 to $50,780.
The area has 5,530 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.96 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. South Carolina ranks number 31st out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Charleston records the highest median at $49,040. Of the 713 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 449th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,070 | −22.9% |
| 25th | $43,000 | −10.5% |
| Median (50th) | $47,320 | −1.6% |
| 75th | $50,780 | +5.6% |
| 90th | $58,480 | +21.7% |
| Mean | $47,310 | −1.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $49,040 | 1,050 | |
| 2 | Greenville | $47,730 | 1,140 | |
| 3 | Hilton Head Island | $47,120 | 270 | |
| 4 | Spartanburg | $46,840 | 310 | |
| 5 | Columbia | $46,800 | 860 | |
| 6 | Myrtle Beach | $45,750 | 390 | |
| 7 | Sumter | $45,500 | 120 | |
| 8 | Florence | $42,220 | 240 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $47,320 goes as far as $50,502 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$47,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$50,502US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $47,320 a year, 1.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $37,070 to $58,480 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,530 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 31st of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $49,040.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dental Assistants in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $47,320, or $22.75 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $48,070, so pay in South Carolina is 1.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in South Carolina earns more than $58,480 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $37,070 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Charleston, at $49,040 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,530 jobs in this occupation in South Carolina. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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