Medical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a medical assistants in South Carolina is $41,160/year ($19.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $44,177 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 45% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in South Carolina?
About medical assistants
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Medical assistants pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 44.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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 medical assistants (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Assistants salary by metro in South Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $46K | +11% | 2,320 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $45K | +9% | 2,550 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $44K | +6% | 560 |
| Spartanburg | $41K | -1% | 620 |
| Sumter | $41K | -1% | 170 |
| Columbia | $41K | -1% | 2,190 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $39K | -5% | 910 |
| Florence | $39K | -6% | 420 |
Compare to other states
Track medical assistants 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 medical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 44.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical assistants in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical assistants typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,084/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 61% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical assistant a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for medical assistants?
South Carolina pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do medical assistants make in South Carolina?
The median is $41,160 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,730, and experienced medical assistants can clear $49,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,842/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 44.4% 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 medical assistants 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 medical assistants salary is worth about $44,177 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical assistants 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.