Male teacher high fiving a young student

South Carolina Teacher Salary

As a South Carolina teacher, you’ll receive a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits and opportunities to grow your career. We'll tell you everything you need to know.

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South Carolina’s average teacher salary is around $53,000, and most salaries are on the rise. (1) In fact, since 2015, the state’s minimum teacher salary has increased by over 20 percent! (2)

On this page, you'll find everything you need to know about salary and benefits for South Carolina teachers.

Get information on:

  • Average teacher salaries and how you can increase your teaching salary.
  • Salaries for other popular professions in state.
  • Benefits and support for SC teachers.
  • Job security for SC teachers.
  • Career growth for teachers.

How Much Do Teachers Make In South Carolina?

Each district has its own salary schedule, but in general, your salary will be determined by your experience level, credentials and location in the state.

Your starting salary, or entry level salary, is how much you’ll make in your first year right after your teaching program. Across the nation, first-year teacher salaries are on the rise.

According to the National Education Association, the national average starting salary for 2019–2020 had “an increase of 2.5% over 2018–2019. When adjusted for inflation, this marks the largest annual increase in starting pay since before the Great Recession.” (3)

In South Carolina, like most states, starting salaries vary by district. You’ll earn a higher starting salary with a master’s degree than you will with a bachelor’s.

In 2022, the South Carolina General Assembly raised the minimum teacher starting salary to $40,000. That's an increase of $4,000 from the year before. (4) And many districts offer even higher starting pay! The chart below shows samples of 2022–2023 salaries for entry level teachers around South Carolina.

District

Salary for first-year teacher with a bachelor's 

Salary for first-year teacher with a master's 

Greenville County Schools$45,075$49,411
Jasper County Schools$42,915$48,125
Richland One (Columbia)$41,760$47,973
Rock Hill Schools$43,418$49,104

You can see even more salary examples in our (free!) downloadable Salary & Benefits report at the top of the page. You can also find more information at our Schools & Community page.

Average salary refers to what all teachers make, on average. That includes people who have been in the job for years. In 2021, South Carolina’s average teacher salary was $53,188. (5)

The chart below shows sample salaries for South Carolina teachers with a decade of experience and a master’s degree. All salaries are from the 2022–2023 school year.

District

Salary for teacher with 10 years of experience and a master’s 

Greenville County Schools$55,874
Jasper County Schools$58,838
Richland One (Columbia)$53,363
Rock Hill Schools$55,526

Teacher Salaries and Cost of Living: As you compare salaries around South Carolina, it's good to factor in the cost of living in your region. You might earn a lower total amount than you would in other areas—but remember, your cost of living will also be much lower than the national average. (6) Extra financial supports, like loan forgiveness and housing assistance, can also help you build a comfortable life as a teacher.

There are a number of ways you can increase your teaching salary, such as earning advanced credentials or leading extracurriculars.

Incentives for Advanced Credentials

Districts offer higher salaries for teachers with advanced degrees, such as a master’s or doctorate.

You can also earn bonuses when you meet certain performance benchmarks, or if you earn your National Board Certification. National Board Certified teachers receive a $5,000 supplement from the state, and some districts provide an additional National Board Certification bonus as well. (7)

Bonuses for Extracurriculars 

Most districts offer extra pay for teachers who lead certain extracurriculars, especially at the middle school and high school levels. These stipends are usually for staple extracurriculars, such as yearbook, choir or athletics.

Stipends vary depending on the activity and your district, but extra pay for these leadership roles ranges from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

You can also increase your pay if you teach in a critical need subject area. Some districts offer incentives, such as salary or signing bonuses, for teachers in shortage areas such as math, science and special education. Check with your district to find out if they have any critical need incentive programs.

There are a number of ways you can increase your salary, such as earning advanced degrees or leading extracurriculars. You can also earn bonuses when you meet certain performance benchmarks, or if you earn your National Board Certification.

How Much Do Similar Professions Make in South Carolina?

Salary numbers are important information, but you may also be wondering how teacher salaries compare to other professions. 

Smiling teacher surrounded by his students.

A South Carolina school teacher salary is comparable to or even higher than many other fields. Plus, teachers usually work just 180–190 days each year—compared to 260 work days a year in most other fields.

Compare average salaries and work days across the state (8): 

Industry

Job

Days of work per year

Average Salary

EducationTeacher185$53K
Business and FinanceCredit Counselor260$40K
LawParalegal or Legal Assistant260$43K
Social ServicesSocial Worker260$44K
Art and DesignGraphic Designer260$45K
HealthcareRegistered Nurse260$66K
TechnologyWeb Developer 260$73K

 

Benefits for Teachers

In South Carolina, teachers receive comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance—plus secure retirement plans and vacation time.

As a South Carolina teacher, you’ll most likely enroll in the South Carolina State Health Plan. This covers medical, dental, vision and other insurance costs for public school teachers and their families. (9)

The SC Department of Administration’s benefits calculator lets you see exactly what contributions to expect toward your health insurance, retirement plan and other benefits. Visit the state Benefits and Leave page to use this tool.

The State Health Plan offers excellent benefits for employees with children. After your first child, you don’t need to pay extra for each additional child’s health insurance. That means more manageable insurance premiums and higher savings for your family.

In South Carolina, you’ll receive retirement funds through the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority. You can choose between the South Carolina Retirement System and the State Optional Retirement Program. 

South Carolina Retirement System

The South Carolina Retirement System is a pension plan, meaning you’ll receive monthly funds from the state after you retire. The longer you’ve worked in the school system, the more you’ll get in retirement. You can retire with full benefits if: 

  • You are 65 years or older and have put in at least eight years of service, OR
  • Your age plus years of service equal 90. For example, if you begin teaching at age 26 and work continuously, you could retire with 33 years of service at age 58. 

You can also retire early at age 60 and receive a reduced monthly benefit. (10)

State Optional Retirement Program

The State Optional Retirement Program works a little differently. This program is more like a traditional IRA, meaning the amount you get in retirement corresponds to how much you contribute. You can access the funds in your account starting at age 59 ½. (11)

Vacation days will depend on your district, but in general, you can expect:

  • Spring break
  • December holiday break
  • National holidays off
  • Paid personal & sick days during the school year

You may also get time off during the summer. Teachers use this time to travel, explore professional development, relax or work elsewhere. Some districts offer summer positions for teachers, such as summer school classes or curriculum development jobs.

Want to continue your education or pursue professional development? Many South Carolina school districts provide funds for tuition reimbursement and professional development (such as conferences or trainings) for teachers.

Building your skills can increase both your knowledge and your pay. It also helps districts retain top-notch educators—so it’s a win-win for everyone.

You don’t have to wait for your district to help cover your continuing education. You'll find grants, scholarships and fellowships for South Carolina teachers and teacher candidates with our Financial Aid Explorer.

Stepping into a classroom could mean stepping out of debt. There are a number of loan forgiveness opportunities for teachers. These programs cancel your remaining student loans—meaning you don’t have to pay them back!—in exchange for a commitment to teach for several years.

Perkins Loan Forgiveness

You can get up to 100% of your Perkins Loan forgiven if you teach a shortage area subject in a school that serves low-income students. 

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you’ve worked full-time in a public service field for 10 years, you may qualify to have your remaining student loans forgiven through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Qualifying fields include government service, nonprofits and public education.

Rural Recruitment Initiative

If you teach in a school district that participates in the Rural Recruitment Initiative, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness for up to seven years, if you have a private loan or if you’ve exhausted your federal loan forgiveness options.

South Carolina Teacher Loan Forgiveness

If you have a South Carolina Teacher Loan, Career Changers Loan or PACE Loan, you could get loan forgiveness funds through the South Carolina Teacher Loan Program. To qualify, you’ll need to teach in a critical need subject area, critical need geographic area or both. 

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program benefits public school teachers with federal student loans.

Teachers in certain shortage areas, including math, science and special education can receive up to $17,500. If you teach a different subject, you can still get up to $5,000 in forgiven loans. 

Buying a house is expensive, but there are resources to help teachers find a home in the community where they teach.

Good Neighbor Next Door

The federal government created Good Neighbor Next Door to contribute to community revitalization and to support people in service professions. The U.S. Department of Housing and Development offers a discount of 50% from the list price of qualifying homes.

Palmetto Heroes

The Palmetto Heroes program is available to vital community members, such as veterans, nurses and classroom teachers. Through this state program, homebuyers receive fixed rate mortgages and down payment assistance.

The Palmetto Heroes program opens every June and stays open until funds have been distributed for the year. Apply early to get financial support! 

Teacher Next Door Program

The Teacher Next Door Program is designed to help classroom teachers buy a home and become homeowners in the communities where they work. The program offers a wide range of support for educators, including:

  • Housing grants
  • Down payment assistance 
  • Home loans
  • Preferred interest rates

Homes for Heroes

Homes for Heroes assists educators by making the home buying, selling or refinancing process easier (and saving teachers money in the process)! Learn more about Homes for Heroes.

The world’s best brands offer discounts to teachers. Think J. Crew, Madewell, Apple, Jo-Ann Fabrics, AC Moore and Marriott Hotels. That means plane tickets take you further. Cell phone bills and gym memberships cost less. Your wardrobe has more options. And new technology is so much more affordable.

As a state employee, you can start getting discounts with the PerksCard program. Your PerksCard lets you save on services and products from both local and national companies. 

Discounts may vary by specific location, but this national list is a good starting place to find some teacher perks.

Now is a great time to become a teacher. Teachers are in high demand across South Carolina, and the number of teaching opportunities is projected to grow in the coming years.

How Much Job Security Will I Have as a Teacher?

Female teacher guiding students using microscope.

Now is a great time to become a teacher. Teachers are in high demand across South Carolina, and the number of teaching opportunities is projected to grow in the coming years. (12) 

You’ll have extra job security if you get certified in a critical need subject or critical need geographic area.

Learn more about critical need areas at our About Certification page. You can also visit the SC Department of Education Critical Need Areas page for a list of current critical need geographic areas in South Carolina.

Career Growth for Teachers

Your teaching journey doesn’t necessarily need to start and end in the classroom. As an educator, you can grow your career—and your salary—by moving into an advanced teaching role, getting certified to teach additional subjects, becoming a school or district leader, working on education policy… The sky’s the limit! 

Want to learn more about career growth possibilities for teachers? Visit our Teacher Career Path Guide for more ideas and options. 

Want to stay in the classroom? 

If your heart is in the classroom, you can teach and grow into specialized leadership roles. For example, you could become:

  • A peer evaluator who offers instructional support and feedback to colleagues.
  • A mentor teacher who helps student teachers and early career teachers develop their teaching skills and strategies.
  • A lead teacher who runs your academic department at your school. 

Many districts provide extra pay for these leadership roles. 

Interested in opportunities outside the classroom? 

After you have some teaching experience under your belt, you might be curious about shifting your career focus. School or district leadership positions can be a great next step. Assistant principals, principals, curriculum coordinators and superintendents all help South Carolina schools and districts run smoothly to support teachers and students.

These administrative roles also come with their own salary schedules and salary bumps. For example, you could earn:

  • $85K–$100K as an elementary school principal in Jasper County School District (13)
  • $64K–$92K as a coordinator in Richland One
  • $74K–$106K as a middle school assistant principal in Richland One (14)
  • $89K–$124K as a high school principal in Rock Hill Schools (15)

These salaries are samples, to give you a sense of the types of jobs and salaries available in school and district leadership.

Get Free 1:1 Advice

Female student holding a cellphone over her ear.

This page is meant as a general overview or starting point—but there’s a lot more info where this came from! A TeachSC coach can answer all your questions about what it’s like to be a teacher in South Carolina. Visit the TeachSC coaching page to set up a free session.

Talk to a Coach

References

  1. “Teacher Pay and Student Spending: How Does Your State Rank?” National Education Association. April 23, 2021. https://www.nea.org/resource-library/teacher-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank 
  2. “South Carolina State Department of Education 2014-15 State Minimum Salary Schedule.” South Carolina Department of Education. Ed.SC.gov. https://ed.sc.gov/finance/financial-data/historical-data/teacher-salary-schedules/fiscal-year-2014-2015-state-minimum-teacher-salary-schedule/
  3. “NEA 2019-2020 Teacher Salary Benchmark Report.” National Education Association. April 26, 2021. https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/2019-2020%20Teacher%20Salary%20Benchmark%20Report.pdf 
  4. “H.5150 General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2022–2023, Part 1B.” South Carolina General Assembly. https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/appropriations2021/gab4100.php
  5. “South Carolina Department of Education Update: SCASBO 2021 Fall Conference.” South Carolina Association of School Business Officials. November 4, 2021. https://scasbo.net/2024-spring-conference/conferences/ 
  6. Cost of Living in South Carolina. Salary.com. https://www.salary.com/research/cost-of-living/sc 
  7. National Board Certification. South Carolina Department of Education. https://www.ed.sc.gov/finance/financial-services/national-board-certification/ 
  8. Salary Finder. CareerOneStop. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/wages/find-salary.aspx 
  9. Employees. Public Employee Benefit Authority. https://www.peba.sc.gov/employees   
  10. South Carolina Retirement System. Public Employee Benefit Authority. https://www.peba.sc.gov/plans/scrs  
  11. South Carolina Optional Retirement Program. Public Employee Benefit Authority. https://www.peba.sc.gov/sorp 
  12. Fastest-Growing Careers. CareerOneStop. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/careers/fastest-growing-careers.aspx?persist=true&location=SC 
  13. 2021-2022 Salary Schedules. Jasper County School District. https://www.jcsd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=434845&type=d&pREC_ID=1374787 
  14. 2021-2022 Employee Handbook. Richland One Human Resources. Richland School District One. https://www.richlandone.org/Page/5179 
  15. Salary Scales. Rock Hill Schools. https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Page/4454 

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