School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in South Carolina is $76,720/year ($36.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $82,344 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 25.1% 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 $77K get you in South Carolina?
About school psychologists
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for school psychologists in South Carolina runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $96K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
School Psychologists salary by metro in South Carolina
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $81K | +6% | 100 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $76K | -1% | 100 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $75K | -2% | 70 |
| Spartanburg | $67K | -12% | 80 |
| Florence | $66K | -13% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track school 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 school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 25.7% 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 school psychologists in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,140/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is school psychologist a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $77K here vs. $96K 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 school psychologists?
South Carolina pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — below the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in South Carolina?
The median is $76,720 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,340, and experienced school psychologists can clear $104,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,923/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 25.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a school 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 school psychologists salary is worth about $82,344 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do school 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.