SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — South Carolina
South Carolina · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Physicists in South Carolina is $138,400 per year, 19.7% below the national median of $172,250.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Physicists in South Carolina is $138,400 per year, 19.7% below the national median of $172,250. Half of workers earn between $110,600 and $172,350. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $106,510 and the ninetieth at $228,440.
Employment stands at 420, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. South Carolina ranks number 29th out of 43 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Greenville records the highest median at $128,040. Of the 713 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 34th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $106,510 | −38.2% |
| 25th | $110,600 | −35.8% |
| Median (50th) | $138,400 | −19.7% |
| 75th | $172,350 | +0.1% |
| 90th | $228,440 | +32.6% |
| Mean | $159,280 | −7.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | $128,040 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $138,400 goes as far as $147,705 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$138,400as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$147,705US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $138,400 a year, 19.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $106,510 to $228,440 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 420 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 29th of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Greenville, at $128,040.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $138,400, or $66.54 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 $172,250, so pay in South Carolina is 19.7% 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 $228,440 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $106,510 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 Greenville, at $128,040 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 420 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.
Explore related data