Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| South Carolina | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $47,320 | $48,867 | -3% |
| Median hourly wage | $22.75 | $23.49 | -3% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $50,502.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Dental Assistant in South Carolina is $47,320, or about $22.75 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dental Assistants is $48,867. South Carolina is -3% below the national median.
Entry-level dental assistants in South Carolina typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 5,530 dental assistant jobs on record and a median salary of $47,320, South Carolina offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 449 of the 713 occupations reported in South Carolina — higher than 37% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Occupational Therapy Assistants at $73,740, Physical Therapist Assistants at $70,500, Massage Therapists at $58,000 — all figures are median annual wages for South Carolina.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. South Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dental assistants rank 449 of the 713 occupations reported in South Carolina — higher than 37% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in South Carolina | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | $73,740 | $830 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $70,500 | $1,870 |
| Massage Therapists | $58,000 | $1,840 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,730 | $860 |
| Medical Equipment Preparers | $42,510 | $1,160 |
| Medical Assistants | $41,160 | $12,110 |
South Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 713 occupations in South Carolina.