SOC 21-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — South Carolina
South Carolina · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in South Carolina is $60,340 per year, close to the national median of $64,330 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in South Carolina is $60,340 per year, close to the national median of $64,330 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $47,970 and $75,780. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $39,800 and the ninetieth at $86,250.
The area has 6,460 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.8 of every thousand jobs. South Carolina ranks number 32nd out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Hilton Head Island records the highest median at $69,200. Of the 713 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 308th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $39,800 | −38.1% |
| 25th | $47,970 | −25.4% |
| Median (50th) | $60,340 | −6.2% |
| 75th | $75,780 | +17.8% |
| 90th | $86,250 | +34.1% |
| Mean | $62,000 | −3.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hilton Head Island | $69,200 | 190 | |
| 2 | Charleston | $62,140 | 1,080 | |
| 3 | Spartanburg | $61,980 | 350 | |
| 4 | Myrtle Beach | $61,940 | 270 | |
| 5 | Columbia | $60,070 | 1,560 | |
| 6 | Sumter | $59,270 | 100 | |
| 7 | Greenville | $58,590 | 1,240 | |
| 8 | Florence | $58,460 | 290 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $60,340 goes as far as $64,397 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,340as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,397US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,340 a year, 6.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $39,800 to $86,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 6,460 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 32nd of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Hilton Head Island, at $69,200.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $60,340, or $29.01 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 $64,330, so pay in South Carolina is 6.2% 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 $86,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $39,800 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 Hilton Head Island, at $69,200 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 6,460 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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