Physician assistants in the Charleston-North Charleston metro earn an average of $123,350 per year. That figure sits slightly above the statewide average of $120,720, so if you are hiring in Charleston, plan to anchor your offer at or above the state midpoint to stay competitive. The median for the metro is $77,790, which reflects a wide spread in compensation and suggests a meaningful mix of entry-level and senior roles in that market.
Physician assistant salary in South Carolina (2026)
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The average physician assistant salary in South Carolina is $120,720 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $122,490 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. South Carolina employs 2,250 physician assistants, and the $1,770 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in South Carolina typically earn around $77,620, while senior specialists typically reach or exceed $158,860. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire in South Carolina, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $122,490 |
Average Annual Salary | $120,720 |
vs. National Average | 14.6% below the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 2,250 employed physician assistants across South Carolina.
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Physician assistant salary percentiles in South Carolina
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $77,620 |
25th Percentile | $105,560 |
75th Percentile | $134,100 |
90th Percentile | $158,860 |
Most offers for physician assistants in South Carolina will land between $105,560 and $134,100, which covers the middle half of the market and gives you a defensible range for candidates at different experience levels. If you are recruiting for a senior or specialized role, expect compensation to push toward or beyond $158,860.
Physician assistant salary by city in South Carolina
City | Average Annual Salary |
Spartanburg | $127,780 |
Charleston | $123,350 |
Myrtle Beach | $121,690 |
Columbia | $117,840 |
Greenville | $116,630 |
Where you hire within South Carolina will affect your compensation budget, so location should factor into your offer strategy. Spartanburg carries the highest average at $127,780, while Greenville sits at the lower end at $116,630, a difference of $11,150 that can meaningfully shift your payroll cost for the same role. If you are hiring across multiple markets, build location-based pay bands rather than applying a single statewide figure.
How South Carolina compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
South Carolina | $120,720 | $122,490 |
Virginia | $142,630 | $135,940 |
Florida | $134,470 | $129,620 |
North Carolina | $130,030 | $129,360 |
Tennessee | $117,300 | $118,240 |
Georgia | $112,090 | $115,390 |
South Carolina sits in the lower half of this regional peer group, which makes it a relatively cost-effective market for physician assistant hiring compared to Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina. The state's average of $120,720 runs $9,310 below North Carolina and $21,910 below Virginia, so employers recruiting across state lines should expect candidates from those markets to carry higher salary expectations. Tennessee and Georgia come in below South Carolina, so the state holds a middle position in the Southeast.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in South Carolina
How much do PAs make in Charleston, SC?
How does South Carolina compare to other states for physician assistant salary?
South Carolina's average physician assistant salary of $120,720 places it below Virginia ($142,630), Florida ($134,470), and North Carolina ($130,030) among regional peers. Tennessee ($117,300) and Georgia ($112,090) both come in lower, so South Carolina occupies a middle position in the Southeast. If you are competing for candidates who have offers from Virginia or Florida, expect to address the compensation gap directly in your offer or benefits package.
What do the top-earning physician assistants make in South Carolina?
Physician assistants at the 90th percentile in South Carolina earn $158,860 per year. If you are recruiting for a senior or highly specialized role, that figure gives you a realistic ceiling to plan around when building your compensation range. Candidates with subspecialty experience or leadership responsibilities will likely expect offers at or near that level.
What is the average physician assistant salary in South Carolina?
The average physician assistant salary in South Carolina is $120,720 per year, with a median of $122,490. The median is the more useful anchor for most hiring decisions because it is less affected by a small number of very high earners at the top of the market. When setting your offer, use the median as your baseline and adjust up or down based on the candidate's experience level and the specialization of the role.
Physician Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1071 (Physician Assistants).
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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