Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in South Carolina is $158,640/year ($76.27/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $311K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $170,269 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 13.1% 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 $159K get you in South Carolina?
About dentists, generals
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Dentists, general pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $159K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 13.7% 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 dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $311K or more, a $214K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General salary by metro in South Carolina
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $229K | +44% | 480 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $145K | -9% | 50 |
| Spartanburg | $140K | -12% | 100 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $140K | -12% | 540 |
| Florence | $137K | -13% | 60 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $134K | -15% | 130 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $121K | -24% | 410 |
Compare to other states
Track dentists, general 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 dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 13.7% 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 dentists, generals in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,815/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $159K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
South Carolina pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $170K — below the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in South Carolina?
The median is $158,640 a year, that works out to about $76 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,920, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $310,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,221/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 13.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dentists, general 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 dentists, general salary is worth about $170,269 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dentists, generals 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.