SOC 23-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Lawyers — South Carolina
South Carolina · 8 metro areas compared
In South Carolina the median wage is $120,310.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In South Carolina the median wage is $120,310. That is 24.7% lower than the national median of $159,670. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $80,870 and $174,620. The lowest tenth earn under $63,140, while the highest tenth earn more than $301,140.
The area has 7,890 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.71 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, South Carolina ranks 36th by median wage. Charleston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $127,280. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 58th of 713 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,140 | −60.5% |
| 25th | $80,870 | −49.4% |
| Median (50th) | $120,310 | −24.7% |
| 75th | $174,620 | +9.4% |
| 90th | $301,140 | +88.6% |
| Mean | $144,700 | −9.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $127,280 | 1,590 | |
| 2 | Greenville | $124,970 | 1,290 | |
| 3 | Spartanburg | $120,310 | 310 | |
| 4 | Myrtle Beach | $118,950 | 440 | |
| 5 | Hilton Head Island | $107,740 | 370 | |
| 6 | Columbia | $105,200 | 1,950 | |
| 7 | Sumter | $101,900 | 70 | |
| 8 | Florence | $96,790 | 190 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $120,310 goes as far as $128,399 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$120,310as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$128,399US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $120,310 a year, 24.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $63,140 to $301,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,890 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 36th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $127,280.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Lawyers in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $120,310, or $57.84 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 $159,670, so pay in South Carolina is 24.7% 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 $301,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $63,140 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 $127,280 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,890 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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