Medical Transcriptionists Salary
The median pay for a medical transcriptionists in South Carolina is $33,870/year ($16.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $36,353 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 54.7% 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 $34K get you in South Carolina?
About medical transcriptionists
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for medical transcriptionists in South Carolina runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $40K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 52.8% 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for medical transcriptionistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level medical transcriptionists (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Transcriptionists salary by metro in South Carolina
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $37K | +11% | 60 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $35K | +2% | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $33K | -2% | 80 |
| Florence | $33K | -4% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track medical transcriptionists 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 transcriptionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $34K, rent takes 52.8% 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 $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical transcriptionists in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical transcriptionists typically earn — is $29K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,741/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 73% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical transcriptionist a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $34K here vs. $40K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for medical transcriptionists?
South Carolina pays $34K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do medical transcriptionists make in South Carolina?
The median is $33,870 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,020, and experienced medical transcriptionists can clear $48,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,393/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 52.8% 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 transcriptionists 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 transcriptionists salary is worth about $36,353 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical transcriptionists 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.