Salary Report for South Carolina Health Care Social Workers

  • The number of Health Care Social Workers currently employed in South Carolina is 2,100.
  • Health Care Social Workers in South Carolina earn an average of $56,870 per year or $27.34 per hour.
  • The percentage of U.S. Health Care Social Workers who work in South Carolina is 1%.
  • South Carolina will need 2,390 new Health Care Social Workers by 2030 or 240 new psychologists per year.

South Carolina Rankings

  • South Carolina ranks #36 in the U.S. for Health Care Social Workers salary and #41 when adjusted for cost-of-living.
  • South Carolina ranks #25 in the U.S. for the total number of Health Care Social Workers employed.
  • South Carolina ranks #25 in U.S. for the number of new Health Care Social Workers needed by 2030.
  • South Carolina ranks #15 in U.S. for the percentage of new Health Care Social Workers needed by 2030.

Compare South Carolina to U.S.

South Carolina Health Care Social Workers earn an average of $56,870 which is 8% less than the national average salary of $62,310.

TypeSouth CarolinaU.S.% Difference
Average Hourly Wage$27.34$29.96-8.74%
Average Annual Salary$56,870$62,310-8.73%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In South Carolina, 50% of Health Care Social Workers earn between $46,290 and $64,160 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Health Care Social Workers earn more than $77,820, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Health Care Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Health Care Social Workers earn under $37,170, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Health Care Social Workers.

PercentExperienceEmployedAnnual Salary
10%Less than a Year210Under $37,170
15%2 – 4 years315$37,170 – $46,290
25%5 – 9 years525$46,290 – $60,040
25%10 – 14 years525$60,040 – $64,160
15%15 – 20 years315$60,040 – $77,820
10%20+ years210Above $77,820
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Health Care Social Workers in South Carolina psychologists earn about $62,051 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $62,310.

Cost-of-living in South Carolina is 8% less than the national average, which means South Carolina residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

  • National average salary for Health Care Social Workers is $62,310.
  • Average South Carolina Health Care Social Workers salary is $56,870.
  • Adjusted for cost-of-living, South Carolina Health Care Social Workers earn an average salary of $62,051.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $56,870, South Carolina Health Care Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($103,530), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($84,760), Psychology Teachers ($76,120), and School Psychologists ($65,080).

However, Health Care Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($44,250), Social Workers ($45,710), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($56,480).

TitleAnnual Salary
Forensic Psychologists$103,530
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$84,760
Psychology Teachers$76,120
School Psychologists$65,080
Health Care Social Workers$56,870
Marriage and Family Therapists$56,480
Social Workers$45,710
Substance Abuse Counselors$44,250
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in South Carolina the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (5,030), Health Care Social Workers (2,390) and Substance Abuse Counselors (2,060).

The three professions in South Carolina needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Substance Abuse Counselors (23.4%), Health Care Social Workers (17.2%) and Social Workers (13%).

Title20202030ChangeYearly Openings
Social Workers4,4505,03013%490
Health Care Social Workers2,0402,39017.2%240
Substance Abuse Counselors1,6702,06023.4%210
Psychology Teachers25028012%30
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2022*

Salaries Ranked by South Carolina Cities

The average salary for Health Care Social Workers in South Carolina is $56,870. The top cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the most are Charleston-North Charleston ($63,400), Columbia ($56,370) and Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin ($56,000).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Health Care Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Lower Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($65,283), Charleston-North Charleston ($64,926) and Northeast South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area ($63,721).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Health Care Social Workers in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Health Care Social Workers salary will have in that area.

AreaAverage SalaryCOL AdjustedDifference
Charleston-North Charleston$63,400$64,926$1,526
Columbia$56,370$61,735$5,365
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin$56,000$61,505$5,505
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort$55,940$57,093$1,153
Spartanburg$55,310$61,490$6,180
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach$55,300$59,239$3,939
Lower Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$54,740$65,283$10,543
Sumter$53,570$62,218$8,648
Northeast South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$53,430$63,721$10,291
Upper Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area$51,980$61,992$10,012
Florence$51,460$58,398$6,938
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Commerce – 2022*

Salary FAQ for South Carolina Health Care Social Workers

South Carolina Health Care Social Workers earn between $37,170 and $77,820 a year depending on their level of education, experience and skill.

There are currently 2,100 Health Care Social Workers employed in South Carolina which is about 1% of the U.S. total.

Forensic Psychologists are the highest paid psychologists in South Carolina with an average annual wage of $103,530.

An entry level psychologist makes as much as $37,170 a year in South Carolina

The most Health Care Social Workers work in the Columbia area where 430 Health Care Social Workers are employed.

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Health Care Social Workers in South Carolina earn 62,051 per year, while the average across the United States earns $62,310.

By 2030, South Carolina will need 2,390 Health Care Social Workers. A total of 240 Health Care Social Workers will need to enter into the South Carolina work forces each year.

City and Rural Summaries

Charleston-North Charleston

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $63,400
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $64,926
Hourly Wage: $30.48
Currently Employed: 350
Cost-of-Living Index: 97.65
Charleston-North Charleston Salary Report

Columbia

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $56,370
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $61,735
Hourly Wage: $27
Currently Employed: 430
Cost-of-Living Index: 91.31
Columbia Salary Report

Florence

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $51,460
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $58,398
Hourly Wage: $24.74
Currently Employed: 150
Cost-of-Living Index: 88.12
Florence Salary Report

Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $56,000
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $61,505
Hourly Wage: $27
Currently Employed: 340
Cost-of-Living Index: 91.05
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin Salary Report

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $55,940
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $57,093
Hourly Wage: $26.89
Currently Employed: 60
Cost-of-Living Index: 97.98
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort Salary Report

Lower Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $54,740
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $65,283
Hourly Wage: $26
Currently Employed: 40
Cost-of-Living Index: 83.85
Lower Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $55,300
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $59,239
Hourly Wage: $26.59
Currently Employed: 120
Cost-of-Living Index: 93.35
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach Salary Report

Northeast South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $53,430
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $63,721
Hourly Wage: $26
Currently Employed: 140
Cost-of-Living Index: 83.85
Northeast South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Spartanburg

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $55,310
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $61,490
Hourly Wage: $26.59
Currently Employed: 140
Cost-of-Living Index: 89.95
Spartanburg Salary Report

Sumter

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $53,570
Adjusted for Cost of Living: $62,218
Hourly Wage: $26
Currently Employed: 70
Cost-of-Living Index: 86.10
Sumter Salary Report

Upper Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area

Average Health Care Social Workers Salary: $51,980
Adjusted for Cost-of-Living: $61,992
Hourly Wage: $24.99
Currently Employed: 70
Cost-of-Living Index: 83.85
Upper Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area Salary Report

Official Data Sources for Health Care Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data