South Carolina Income Statistics
South Carolina Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a state's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
South Carolina Below averageLess wealthy than 78% of states in US
Source: Map AI Methodology
Wealthiest and Least Wealthy Counties in South Carolina
- York County (108% of U.S. avg)
- Charleston County (106% of U.S. avg)
- Beaufort County (103% of U.S. avg)
- Allendale County (66% of U.S. avg)
- Marlboro County (68% of U.S. avg)
- Dillon County (72% of U.S. avg)
Ranked by the Map AI Wealth Index, which combines income, employment, and income inequality metrics.
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | South Carolina | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $69,383 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,934 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.0% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.9% | 13.2% |
The median household income in South Carolina is about 14% lower than in US. Income has been growing faster in South Carolina (5.0%/yr) than in US (4.8%/yr).
About 11% of adults in South Carolina earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the US average of 14%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in South Carolina grew by 59.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $69,383 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in South Carolina
| Metric | South Carolina | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.547 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $62,655 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $49,387 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In South Carolina, it is 0.547, lower than US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 27% more than women's income in South Carolina. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $464,380 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in South Carolina has narrowed from about 23% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,554 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | South Carolina | US Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 11.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 125,221 people are unemployed in South Carolina.
The average commute time in South Carolina is 22 minutes, about the same as in US.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in South Carolina has fallen from 10.0% to 4.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 11.3% in 2013.
South Carolina Wealth Compared With Nearby States
South Carolina is the 5th largest of the 6 states compared here, 5,295,781 residents against a local median of 10,724,323. There is no headline here. Every measure below sits within 15% of the median across the nearest states, which makes South Carolina an unremarkable member of its own neighbourhood rather than an outlier in it.
The largest of those small differences is median household income, 7% below the local median at $69,383 against $74,580. South Carolina has the 5th highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 5,295,781 | $69,383 #5/6 | 5.0%/yr #4/6 | 4.8% #4/6 | 0.547 #3/6 |
| North Carolina | 10,724,323 | $72,438 | 5.2%/yr | 4.6% | 0.547 |
| Georgia | 10,939,918 | $77,523 | 5.3%/yr | 5.1% | 0.561 |
| Virginia | 8,702,460 | $93,527 | 4.3%/yr | 4.1% | 0.544 |
| West Virginia | 1,778,099 | $59,640 | 4.3%/yr | 5.4% | 0.554 |
| Florida | 22,388,905 | $74,580 | 5.4%/yr | 4.8% | 0.551 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, South Carolina has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in South Carolina.
How Rich Is South Carolina?
South Carolina has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $69,383, about 14% lower than the US average of $80,455.
Are incomes growing in South Carolina?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in South Carolina rose 59%, from $43,639 to $69,383. Over the same years, income here outpaced the U.S. as a whole: +59% against +57%.
What was the median household income in South Carolina in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in South Carolina was $66,973, up 5% from $63,688 in 2022. The US median that year was $78,147.
What was the median household income in South Carolina in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in South Carolina was $55,275. By 2024 it had risen 26% to $69,383.
What is the Gini coefficient in South Carolina?
The Gini coefficient in South Carolina is 0.547. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in South Carolina?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in South Carolina has narrowed from about 23% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 24% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,554 since 2009.
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