Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
The median pay for a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in South Carolina is $62,580/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $67,168 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 30.7% 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:
Where the paycheck goes
What $63K actually covers in South Carolina, month by month
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in South Carolina runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.3% 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary by metro in South Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $65K | +4% | 680 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $65K | +4% | 2,430 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $64K | +2% | 2,700 |
| Spartanburg | $63K | +1% | 1,120 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $63K | +0% | 790 |
| Florence | $61K | -3% | 700 |
| Columbia | $60K | -4% | 3,310 |
| Sumter | $60K | -4% | 310 |
Compare to other states
Track secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary changes
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 30.3% 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 $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,309/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $63K here vs. $72K 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
South Carolina pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — below the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in South Carolina?
The median is $62,580 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,740, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $80,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,162/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 30.3% 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $67,168 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations 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.