Speech-Language Pathologists Salary
The median pay for a speech-language pathologists in South Carolina is $90,530/year ($43.52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $97,166 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $91K actually covers in South Carolina, month by month
About speech-language pathologists
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Speech-language pathologists pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $91K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 22.3% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level speech-language pathologists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $91K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Speech-Language Pathologists salary by metro in South Carolina
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $99K | +9% | 370 |
| Florence | $96K | +6% | 90 |
| Spartanburg | $96K | +6% | 200 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $89K | -2% | 330 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $88K | -3% | 100 |
| Columbia | $88K | -3% | 390 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $86K | -5% | 130 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a speech-language pathologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $91K, rent takes 22.3% 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 speech-language pathologists in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new speech-language pathologists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,791/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is speech-language pathologist a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $91K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for speech-language pathologists?
South Carolina pays $91K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — below the national median.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in South Carolina?
The median is $90,530 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,560, and experienced speech-language pathologists can clear $124,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $91K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,659/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 22.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a speech-language pathologists 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 speech-language pathologists salary is worth about $97,166 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do speech-language pathologists 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.