Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Charleston-North Charleston, SC make a median of $65,000 a year, or about $31.25 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $64,382 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,787/month, about 41.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $65K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About clinical and counseling psychologists
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What this looks like in Charleston-North Charleston
Pay for clinical and counseling psychologists in Charleston-North Charleston runs about 35% below the U.S. median of $101K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,787/month, which is 41.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.96) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for clinical and counseling psychologistss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for clinical and counseling psychologists in metros near Charleston-North Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $100K | $107K |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $97K | $104K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $97K | $97K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $117K | $120K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $134K | +34% | 540 |
| New Jersey | $127K | +26% | 2,700 |
| New Mexico | $125K | +24% | N/A |
| Alaska | $124K | +24% | 40 |
| Arizona | $119K | +18% | 730 |
| Hawaii | $118K | +17% | 250 |
| North Dakota | $116K | +15% | 170 |
| California | $116K | +15% | 12,840 |
| Washington | $115K | +15% | 1,270 |
| Massachusetts | $115K | +15% | 2,860 |
| New York | $114K | +14% | 8,420 |
| Wisconsin | $113K | +13% | 1,150 |
| Colorado | $113K | +13% | 1,170 |
| Delaware | $113K | +12% | 280 |
| Rhode Island | $107K | +7% | 420 |
| Minnesota | $107K | +6% | 1,290 |
| District of Columbia | $107K | +6% | 220 |
| Nevada | $103K | +2% | 680 |
| Ohio | $101K | +1% | 2,080 |
| Missouri | $99K | -1% | 840 |
| Utah | $99K | -1% | 1,020 |
| Kentucky | $99K | -1% | 710 |
| Idaho | $98K | -3% | 300 |
| Georgia | $96K | -4% | 1,120 |
| Nebraska | $95K | -6% | 770 |
| South Carolina | $93K | -8% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $92K | -8% | 2,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $92K | -9% | 3,140 |
| Iowa | $92K | -9% | 440 |
| Alabama | $91K | -10% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $90K | -11% | 50 |
| Virginia | $87K | -14% | 2,140 |
| Florida | $86K | -15% | 3,040 |
| Indiana | $85K | -16% | 1,850 |
| Michigan | $85K | -16% | 2,170 |
| Illinois | $84K | -17% | 5,810 |
| Texas | $84K | -17% | 3,640 |
| Vermont | $83K | -17% | 190 |
| South Dakota | $80K | -20% | 120 |
| Oklahoma | $80K | -21% | 950 |
| Arkansas | $78K | -23% | 370 |
| West Virginia | $77K | -23% | 920 |
| Tennessee | $77K | -24% | 1,180 |
| Kansas | $77K | -24% | 400 |
| Mississippi | $76K | -24% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $71K | -29% | 320 |
| Montana | $68K | -32% | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $64K | -36% | 330 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track clinical and counseling psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Charleston-North Charleston numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical and counseling psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston-North Charleston?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 41.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,787/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Charleston-North Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical and counseling psychologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,787/month. At HUD’s $1,787/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is clinical and counseling psychologist a high-paying job in Charleston-North Charleston?
Local pay runs 35% below the national median — $65K here vs. $101K nationally.
How does Charleston-North Charleston compare to the national average for clinical and counseling psychologists?
Charleston-North Charleston pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -35%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $65,000 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,110, and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists can clear $101,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,298/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 41.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a clinical and counseling psychologists salary go in Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median clinical and counseling psychologists salary is worth about $64,382 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do clinical and counseling psychologists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.