Dental Assistant salary in South Carolina
The verified BLS median dental assistant in South Carolina earns $47,320 ($22.75/hr). South Carolina is about the national median ($48,070).
Dental Assistant pay in South Carolina: the analysis
At a verified median of $47,320, dental assistants in South Carolina earn slightly below the U.S. median of $48,070 — a gap of about 2%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports dental assistant pay, South Carolina ranks 31st.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of dental assistants in this state earn around $37,070, while the top tenth earn $58,480 or more — a spread of about $21,410. That gap reflects experience, practice setting, and demand more than any single factor, so an individual offer can sit well above or below the midpoint.
The BLS counts roughly 5,530 dental assistants employed in South Carolina — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within South Carolina, a dental assistant earns about 3.4× less than a general dentist and about 1.8× less than a dental hygienist ($158,640, $84,340 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, dental assistant pay is highest in Charleston at about $49,040 and lowest in Florence at about $42,220. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Dental Assistant pay distribution — South Carolina (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $37,070 | $17.82/hr |
| 25th percentilei | $43,000 | $20.67/hr |
| Median (50th)i | $47,320 | $22.75/hr |
| 75th percentilei | $50,780 | $24.41/hr |
| 90th percentilei | $58,480 | $28.12/hr |
| Mean (average)i | $47,310 | $22.75/hr |
Dental Assistant pay by metro in South Carolina
All 8 South Carolina metros where BLS publishes a dental assistant wage — highest first. State median: $47,320.
- Charleston$49,040+4%
- Greenville$47,730+1%
- Hilton Head Island$47,120
- Spartanburg$46,840-1%
- Columbia$46,800-1%
- Myrtle Beach$45,750-3%
- Sumter$45,500-4%
- Florence$42,220-11%
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the South Carolina median. Metros where BLS does not publish a dental assistant wage are not listed.
Estimate your pay
Open calculatorKnow a real number we don’t?
Submit your compensation anonymously. We review every entry and publish only de-identified aggregates above a sample-size threshold.
Submit your salary →Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in South Carolina?
The verified BLS OEWS median dental assistant in South Carolina earns about $47,320 ($22.75/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
Last updated