Psychiatrists Salary
The median pay for a psychiatrists in South Carolina is $237,250/year ($114.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $129K at the entry level to $308K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $254,642 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 8.9% 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 $237K get you in South Carolina?
About psychiatrists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for psychiatrists in South Carolina runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $282K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 9.4% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, South Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for psychiatristss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level psychiatrists (10th percentile) start around $129K. Mid-career wages sit at $237K. Top earners bring in $308K or more, a $179K spread from bottom to top.
Psychiatrists salary by metro in South Carolina
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $251K | +6% | 90 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $247K | +4% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track psychiatrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a psychiatrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $237K, rent takes 9.4% 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 psychiatrists in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychiatrists typically earn — is $129K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,755/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 16% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is psychiatrist a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $237K here vs. $282K 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 psychiatrists?
South Carolina pays $237K median vs. the U.S. average of $282K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $255K — below the national median.
How much do psychiatrists make in South Carolina?
The median is $237,250 a year, that works out to about $114 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $129,250, and experienced psychiatrists can clear $308,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $237K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,401/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 9.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a psychiatrists 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 psychiatrists salary is worth about $254,642 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychiatrists 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.