2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in South Carolina

Salary Report for South Carolina Social Workers

South Carolina Rankings

Compare South Carolina to U.S.

South Carolina Social Workers earn an average of $45,710 which is 16% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	South Carolina	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.98	$26.39	-16.71%
Average Annual Salary	$45,710	$54,880	-16.71%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In South Carolina, 50% of Social Workers earn between $37,200 and $49,340 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $60,950, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $30,640, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	293	Under $30,640
15%	2 – 4 years	440	$30,640 – $37,200
25%	5 – 9 years	732	$37,200 – $43,740
25%	10 – 14 years	732	$43,740 – $49,340
15%	15 – 20 years	440	$43,740 – $60,950
10%	20+ years	293	Above $60,950

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in South Carolina psychologists earn about $49,875 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

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.

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

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $45,710, South Carolina Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($103,530), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($84,760), Psychology Teachers ($76,120), School Psychologists ($65,080), Health Care Social Workers ($56,870), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($56,480).

However, Social Workers tend to earn more than Substance Abuse Counselors ($44,250).

Title	Annual 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

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%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	4,450	5,030	13%	490
Health Care Social Workers	2,040	2,390	17.2%	240
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,670	2,060	23.4%	210
Psychology Teachers	250	280	12%	30

Salaries Ranked by South Carolina Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in South Carolina is $45,710. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach ($50,810), Charleston-North Charleston ($48,640) and Columbia ($48,100).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach ($54,430), Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin ($52,685) and Columbia ($52,678).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for 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 Social Workers salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach	$50,810	$54,430	$3,620
Charleston-North Charleston	$48,640	$49,811	$1,171
Columbia	$48,100	$52,678	$4,578
Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin	$47,970	$52,685	$4,715
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort	$44,140	$45,050	$910
Upper Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$43,950	$52,415	$8,465
Spartanburg	$43,500	$48,360	$4,860
Florence	$42,770	$48,536	$5,766
Northeast South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$41,870	$49,934	$8,064
Sumter	$40,810	$47,398	$6,588
Lower Savannah South Carolina Nonmetropolitan Area	$40,230	$47,979	$7,749

Salary FAQ for South Carolina Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

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