Clinical and Counseling Psychologists Salary
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in South Carolina make a median of $92,700 a year, or about $44.57 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $99,496 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $93K get you in South Carolina?
About clinical and counseling psychologists
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Clinical and counseling psychologists pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $101K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level clinical and counseling psychologists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists salary by metro in South Carolina
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $100K | +8% | 110 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $97K | +5% | 90 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $65K | -30% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track clinical and counseling psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical and counseling psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical and counseling psychologists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,576/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $101K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for clinical and counseling psychologists?
South Carolina pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $99K — below the national median.
How much do clinical and counseling psychologists make in South Carolina?
The median is $92,700 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,600, and experienced clinical and counseling psychologists can clear $131,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,775/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 21.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a clinical and counseling psychologists salary go in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median clinical and counseling psychologists salary is worth about $99,496 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.