SOC 19-1099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Life Scientists, All Other — South Carolina
South Carolina
The median wage for Life Scientists, All Other in South Carolina is $169,440 per year, well above the national median of $93,750.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Life Scientists, All Other in South Carolina is $169,440 per year, well above the national median of $93,750. The gap of 80.7% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $136,990 and $204,840. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $112,400 and the ninetieth at $204,940.
South Carolina ranks number 1st out of 32 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 713 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 21st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $112,400 | +19.9% |
| 25th | $136,990 | +46.1% |
| Median (50th) | $169,440 | +80.7% |
| 75th | $204,840 | +118.5% |
| 90th | $204,940 | +118.6% |
| Mean | $166,780 | +77.9% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $169,440 goes as far as $180,832 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 92.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$169,440as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$180,832US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $169,440 a year, 80.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $112,400 to $204,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 1st of 32 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Life Scientists, All Other in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $169,440, or $81.46 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 $93,750, so pay in South Carolina is 80.7% higher. 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 $204,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $112,400 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.
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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