How Much Does an RN Make in South Carolina in 2026?

A typical registered nurse in South Carolina earns about $39.60 per hour ($82,360 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $6,863 a month. On a weekly basis, pay comes to about $1,584, figures calculated from the annual median assuming a standard full-time schedule.

That figure sits 16% below the national typical pay of $46.90 an hour ($97,550 a year), placing South Carolina 39th out of 51 states and territories tracked. Lower pay in South Carolina generally lines up with a lower cost of living compared with many higher-paying states. About 49,750 registered nurses work across the state, giving a sense of scale for these figures.

Entry-level positions in South Carolina typically offer around $32.14 an hour, or about $66,860 a year. Pay tends to move toward the typical $39.60 an hour mark within the first several years on the job. New graduates often start near this level regardless of setting, with increases tied largely to experience and additional certifications.

Experienced registered nurses in South Carolina often earn upwards of $97,230 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $106,520 a year ($51.21 an hour). That leaves a spread of $39,660 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years on the job, and city all play a part in where an individual nurse lands within that range.

South Carolina RN pay has risen steadily over the past decade, climbing from $59,340 in 2015 to $82,360 in 2025. That is a gain of $23,020, or 39%, over ten years. Increases were sharpest between 2020 and 2022, when pay jumped from $66,050 to $75,610.

Nationally, RN pay rose 45% over the same ten years, a slightly faster pace than South Carolina's climb. Pay for South Carolina nurses has moved up consistently each year since 2015, with no year showing a decline. That trend does not guarantee future increases, but it shows a steady, upward pattern for someone entering the field now.

Pay runs highest around North Charleston and Charleston, where RNs earn $92,800 a year ($44.62 an hour), based on the full metro area. That is about 13% above the state figure of $82,360. The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metro area, which extends into South Carolina's York County, follows closely at $90,620 a year and holds the largest RN workforce among the state's metro areas, with 27,010 nurses.

At the other end, RNs in the North Myrtle Beach area earn the least, at $80,640 a year ($38.77 an hour), a spread of $12,160 from the top-paying metro. Coastal cities like Myrtle Beach and Conway tend to pay less than the Charleston and Charlotte-area metros, generally in line with differences in local living costs. Figures for each city reflect its full metro area, not just the city limits.

South Carolina's RN pay compares closely with North Carolina, where nurses earn $84,350 a year, about 2% higher than South Carolina's figure. Georgia pays noticeably more, at $93,550 a year, roughly 14% above South Carolina. Nursing licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can make it easier for a nurse to compare offers across state lines before relocating.

South Carolina RNs typically earn $82,360 a year ($39.60 an hour) as of May 2025, up 39% from $59,340 a decade earlier. For specific requirements, the South Carolina Board of Nursing's licensing page outlines what is needed to practice in the state. For pay in a specific city, from Charleston to Columbia to Myrtle Beach, the local city pages break down figures by metro area.