How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in South Carolina in 2026?

A typical Medical Assistant in South Carolina earns about $19.79 per hour ($41,160 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $3,430 a month, or $792 a week, based on the annual figure. Pay varies by city, employer, and experience, but this figure represents the middle of the range statewide.

South Carolina's typical pay runs 10% below the national figure of $45,690 a year, a gap that often tracks the state's lower cost of living. That places South Carolina 37th among the 51 states and territories tracked. Around 12,110 Medical Assistants work across South Carolina, compared with 817,870 nationwide.

Entry-level positions in South Carolina typically offer around $16.70 an hour, or about $34,730 a year, for those just starting out. Pay for newcomers often falls between $34,730 and $37,290 as they gain experience. Within a few years, many Medical Assistants move up toward the statewide typical pay of $41,160 a year.

Experienced Medical Assistants often earn upwards of $22.57 to $23.61 an hour, with the top 10% making over $49,110 a year. That leaves a spread of $14,380 between entry-level and top-tier pay in South Carolina. Setting, years on the job, and the city where someone works all play into where an individual lands within that range.

South Carolina's typical pay for Medical Assistants climbed from $28,310 in 2015 to $41,160 in 2025, a gain of $12,850. That's a 45% rise over the decade, with steady increases nearly every year along the way. The sharpest jumps came between 2020 and 2025, as pay moved from $32,000 to $41,160.

Nationally, Medical Assistant pay rose 49% over the same ten years, a slightly faster climb than South Carolina's. Pay in South Carolina has moved up consistently rather than in one large jump, and someone starting out now enters at a higher point than in past years. That describes what has already happened; it isn't a guarantee of future increases.

Pay runs highest in the Concord area, where Medical Assistants earn $46,520 a year ($22.36 an hour), about 13% above the South Carolina figure. Charleston and North Charleston follow at $45,600 a year, with Greenville and Anderson close behind at $44,860. These figures reflect each city's full metro area rather than the city alone.

Pay is lowest in the Richmond County area, where Medical Assistants earn $38,470 a year ($18.50 an hour), a spread of $8,050 between the state's highest- and lowest-paying cities. Concord also has the largest Medical Assistant workforce in the data, with 6,060 employed there. Higher pay in cities like Concord and Charleston often comes with a higher cost of living, so the gap doesn't always translate to more spending power.

North Carolina pays Medical Assistants noticeably more, with typical pay of $45,140 a year, about 10% above South Carolina's figure. Georgia runs closer to South Carolina, at $41,600 a year, roughly 1% higher. Medical Assistants considering a move across state lines can often transfer or have their certification endorsed by the neighboring state's licensing body, though requirements vary and should be confirmed directly.

Medical Assistants in South Carolina typically earn $41,160 a year ($19.79 an hour), a figure that has climbed 45% since 2015. Pay runs a bit below the national figure, largely in step with the state's cost of living, and varies by city and experience level. Readers weighing this career should check South Carolina's certification and registry requirements for specifics, and compare local pay using city-level figures before deciding where to work.