Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
The highest paying job in South Carolina is General Internal Medicine Physicians, with a median salary of $359,500 per year. Below is the complete ranking of the top 25 careers in SC based on 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
See how South Carolina compares to other states. Click any state for its top-paying jobs.
Ranked by median annual salary. Click any job to see the full salary breakdown including percentile data and state-by-state comparisons.
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $359,500 | $315,380 | 1,260 |
| 2 | Neurologists | $352,680 | $354,250 | 40 |
| 3 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $341,960 | $285,730 | 80 |
| 4 | Orthodontists | $311,450 | $292,350 | N/A |
| 5 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $302,340 | $268,740 | 350 |
| 6 | Nurse Anesthetists | $265,480 | $276,380 | 1,010 |
| 7 | Dermatologists | $259,990 | $287,560 | 180 |
| 8 | Family Medicine Physicians | $239,200 | $244,960 | 1,200 |
| 9 | Anesthesiologists | $238,970 | $283,240 | 950 |
| 10 | Psychiatrists | $237,250 | $226,360 | 200 |
| 11 | Physicians, Pathologists | $236,950 | $278,740 | 80 |
| 12 | Pediatricians, General | $217,120 | $233,160 | 420 |
| 13 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $214,160 | $275,240 | 100 |
| 14 | Radiologists | $174,480 | $232,030 | N/A |
| 15 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $169,040 | $173,140 | 3,200 |
| 16 | Chief Executives | $168,840 | $211,720 | 1,740 |
| 17 | Podiatrists | $167,110 | $177,870 | 70 |
| 18 | Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $162,400 | $155,340 | 110 |
| 19 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $160,860 | $166,190 | 4,930 |
| 20 | Dentists, General | $158,640 | $181,570 | 2,140 |
| 21 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | $156,300 | $156,030 | N/A |
| 22 | Optometrists | $145,950 | $129,570 | 480 |
| 23 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $143,580 | $150,970 | 110 |
| 24 | Marketing Managers | $143,290 | $162,650 | 3,760 |
| 25 | Medical Dosimetrists | $140,530 | $138,680 | 60 |
The top-paying careers in South Carolina are concentrated in Healthcare Practitioners fields. The #1 job, General Internal Medicine Physicians, pays $290,081 more than the state average of $69,418 per year.
At the 90th percentile, experienced General Internal Medicine Physicians professionals in SC can earn up to $441,010 annually — making it one of the most lucrative career paths in the state.
Among the top 25, the minimum median salary is $140,530, meaning all jobs on this list pay significantly above the national average.
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See how South Carolina's top salaries compare to other states.
Rankings are based on median annual salary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 estimates. We use median rather than mean salary because it better represents typical earnings and is less affected by outliers.
Only occupations with state-level data published by BLS are included. Some specialized or rare occupations may not have data for every state. For full methodology details, see our Methodology page.