General Dentist salary in South Carolina
The verified BLS median general dentist in South Carolina earns $158,640 ($76.27/hr). South Carolina pays roughly 7% below the national median of $170,950.
General Dentist pay in South Carolina: the analysis
At a verified median of $158,640, general dentists in South Carolina earn modestly below the U.S. median of $170,950 — a gap of about 7%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports general dentist pay, South Carolina ranks 41st.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of general dentists in this state earn around $96,920, while the top tenth earn $310,840 or more — a spread of about $213,920. 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 2,140 general dentists employed in South Carolina — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within South Carolina, a general dentist earns about 1.9× what a dental hygienist earns and about 3.4× what a dental assistant earns ($84,340, $47,320 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, general dentist pay is highest in Columbia at about $228,820 and lowest in Charleston at about $121,090. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
General Dentist pay distribution — South Carolina (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $96,920 |
| 25th percentilei | $121,090 |
| Median (50th)i | $158,640 |
| 75th percentilei | $228,820 |
| 90th percentilei | $310,840 |
| Mean (average)i | $181,570 |
General Dentist pay by metro in South Carolina
All 7 South Carolina metros where BLS publishes a general dentist wage — highest first. State median: $158,640.
- Columbia$228,820+44%
- Hilton Head Island$144,640-9%
- Spartanburg$140,360-12%
- Greenville$139,940-12%
- Florence$137,260-13%
- Myrtle Beach$134,420-15%
- Charleston$121,090-24%
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 general dentist wage are not listed.
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How much does a general dentist make in South Carolina?
The verified BLS OEWS median general dentist in South Carolina earns about $158,640 ($76.27/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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