PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in South Carolina

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in South Carolina earned a median of $94,597 in September 2026, 14% below the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #34 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$94,597
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$67,896–$122,490
25th–75th percentile
Employees
12,743
with published duty station
Rank
#34
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
South Carolina
All federal (full-time)

OPM withheld the duty-station location for 943,611 federal employees nationwide, including the entire Department of Defense civilian workforce and large parts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. Those employees are not counted in any state, so state totals understate the federal presence, especially in states with large military installations.

Pay by occupation in South Carolina

The 30 largest occupations in South Carolina with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (70 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in South Carolina
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Nurse Series 0610 1,580 $118,770 $104,837–$137,614
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 725 $54,703 $53,025–$58,007
Medical Officer Series 0602 510 $302,672 $274,966–$363,742
Veterans Claims Examining Series 0996 482 $89,508 $74,765–$98,459
Social Work Series 0185 387 $105,331 $94,457–$116,643
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 373 $89,618 $77,168–$109,985
Human Resources Management Series 0201 323 $107,411 $92,491–$125,776
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 317 $117,081 $95,475–$134,822
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 313 $94,597 $84,638–$107,411
Pharmacist Series 0660 308 $171,969 $159,029–$179,292
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 283 $55,506 $50,241–$59,031
Information Technology Management Series 2210 261 $131,273 $113,533–$147,945
Passport and Visa Examining Series 0967 226 $87,128 $74,678–$96,684
Practical Nurse Series 0620 190 $67,574 $63,263–$70,931
Financial Administration and Program Series 0501 189 $98,459 $82,148–$117,081
Nursing Assistant Series 0621 187 $49,055 $46,318–$53,514
General Health Science Series 0601 173 $84,638 $82,148–$106,852
Air Traffic Control Series 2152 169 $107,403 $83,870–$131,139
Custodial Working Series 3566 163 $44,390 $41,218–$45,977
Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 159 $55,606 $50,296–$62,235
Social Science Series 0101 146 $84,638 $79,658–$97,087
Psychology Series 0180 145 $148,391 $135,297–$164,758
General Legal and Kindred Administration Series 0901 140 $69,954 $65,838–$76,128
Pharmacy Technician Series 0661 137 $70,340 $66,432–$77,191
General Engineering Series 0801 120 $148,609 $129,905–$167,153
Contracting Series 1102 112 $117,081 $103,681–$138,356
Medical Records Technician Series 0675 105 $67,896 $61,469–$72,644
Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist Series 0647 105 $89,041 $82,613–$96,899
General Business and Industry Series 1101 101 $84,638 $67,896–$113,378
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 101 $101,443 $83,832–$129,465

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Pay by agency in South Carolina

Federal pay by agency in South Carolina
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs 7,989 $92,107 $62,979–$122,134
Department of Agriculture 891 $79,658 $63,780–$101,443
Department of Justice 612 $86,403 $76,309–$97,087
Department of State 589 $101,443 $87,128–$124,177
Social Security Administration 525 $92,107 $74,070–$107,411
Department of Commerce 436 $123,144 $92,077–$163,514
Department of Transportation 353 $113,671 $96,009–$134,822
Department of Homeland Security 326 $107,411 $82,148–$126,750
Department of the Interior 237 $80,922 $63,780–$104,427
Department of Energy 217 $146,700 $128,736–$166,636
Department of Health and Human Services 203 $125,776 $106,680–$138,370
Department of the Treasury 104 $109,985 $82,148–$138,356
Small Business Administration 44 $79,658 $74,678–$102,448
General Services Administration 37 $116,064 $98,459–$127,725
Department of Labor 36 $100,654 $89,508–$116,362

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +2.7% from $92,123 in September 2025 to $94,597 in September 2026. Headcount went from 13,511 to 12,743 (−5.7%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

States with similar median federal pay

All states ranked →