South Carolina's mean nurse practitioner salary of $124,170 falls below most neighboring states, including North Carolina at $130,870 and Florida at $130,410. This gives employers in South Carolina a relative cost advantage when budgeting for nurse practitioner roles compared to peers in those markets. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from neighboring states, expect some upward pressure on your offer from candidates with options in higher-paying markets.
Nurse practitioner salary in South Carolina (2026)
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The average nurse practitioner salary in South Carolina is $124,170 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $123,290 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. South Carolina employs 5,670 nurse practitioners, and the $880 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior nurse practitioners in South Carolina typically earn around $97,080, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $160,170 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a nurse practitioner hire, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $123,290 |
Average Annual Salary | $124,170 |
vs. National Average | 9.6% below the national mean of $137,300 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 5,670 employed nurse practitioners across South Carolina.
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Nurse practitioner salary percentiles in South Carolina
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $97,080 |
25th Percentile | $107,930 |
75th Percentile | $132,220 |
90th Percentile | $160,170 |
Employers setting an offer for a nurse practitioner in South Carolina should expect a meaningful spread depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $97,080, while experienced senior practitioners reach $160,170 at the 90th percentile, giving you a $63,090 range to work with when structuring a competitive offer.
Nurse practitioner salary by city in South Carolina
City | Average Annual Salary |
Spartanburg | $128,140 |
Charleston | $126,750 |
Columbia | $120,550 |
Myrtle Beach | $119,990 |
Greenville | $118,850 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a nurse practitioner hire in South Carolina. Spartanburg leads at $128,140 and Greenville sits at the lower end at $118,850, a $9,290 spread that gives employers in lower-cost markets a modest advantage when competing for talent against higher-paying metros.
How South Carolina compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
South Carolina | $124,170 | $123,290 |
North Carolina | $130,870 | $128,990 |
Florida | $130,410 | $129,510 |
Virginia | $129,060 | $127,810 |
Georgia | $128,800 | $129,430 |
Tennessee | $115,510 | $117,590 |
South Carolina offers employers a cost-effective market relative to most neighboring states, which matters when budgeting headcount across a multi-state footprint. The state's mean of $124,170 sits below North Carolina ($130,870), Florida ($130,410), Virginia ($129,060), and Georgia ($128,800), though it runs above Tennessee at $115,510. Employers hiring in South Carolina can set competitive offers without matching the compensation floors required in higher-cost neighboring markets.
Frequently asked questions about nurse practitioner salary in South Carolina
How does South Carolina compare to other states for nurse practitioner salary?
What do the top-earning nurse practitioners make in South Carolina?
Nurse practitioners at the 90th percentile in South Carolina earn $160,170 per year. When building compensation bands for senior or specialized roles, use $160,170 as the level that experienced practitioners reach rather than as a ceiling, since some roles will require offers at or above that threshold. Budgeting above the 90th percentile is a reasonable approach when recruiting for highly specialized or leadership-level positions.
What is the salary range for a nurse practitioner in South Carolina?
The salary range for a nurse practitioner in South Carolina runs from $97,080 at the 10th percentile to $160,170 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $107,930 at the 25th percentile and $132,220 at the 75th percentile, which is the range most employers will use when setting offers for candidates with moderate experience. Anchoring your offer within that interquartile range is a practical starting point for most standard nurse practitioner hires.
What is the average nurse practitioner salary in South Carolina?
The average nurse practitioner salary in South Carolina is $124,170 per year, with a median of $123,290. The close alignment between the mean and median tells you the market is relatively stable without extreme outliers distorting the picture. For most hiring decisions, the median of $123,290 is the more reliable anchor when setting your initial offer.
Nurse Practitioner salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1171 (Nurse Practitioners).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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Jul 7, 2026
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3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in South Carolina (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in South Carolina average $124,170, ranging from $97,080 to $160,170. See BLS data by city, percentile, and neighboring state.
Jul 7, 2026
|
3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in North Carolina (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in North Carolina average $130,870. See pay by percentile, city, and how NC compares to neighboring states.
Jul 7, 2026
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3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in Georgia (2026)
Georgia nurse practitioners earn a median $129,430 per year. See salary percentiles, city breakdowns, and state comparisons to budget competitive offers.
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Nurse practitioner salary in Alabama (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in Alabama average $110,970, with pay ranging from $86,300 to $134,650. See how Alabama compares to neighboring states.
Jul 7, 2026
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Nurse practitioner salary in Virginia (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in Virginia average $129,060, with pay ranging from $99,990 to $161,470. See city breakdowns and state comparisons.
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3 min
Nurse practitioner salary in Tennessee (2026)
Tennessee nurse practitioners earn a median $117,590 annually. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and neighboring states to budget competitive offers.
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Nurse practitioner salary in Louisiana (2026)
Louisiana nurse practitioners earn $126,630 on average. See salary percentiles, city breakdowns, and how Louisiana compares to neighboring states.
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Nurse practitioner salary in Kentucky (2026)
Nurse practitioner salaries in Kentucky average $125,010 per year. See pay by city, percentile, and how Kentucky compares to neighboring states.
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