Jobs that lost the most to inflation in South Carolina

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

Cost of living: prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average (2024), so a South Carolina salary is worth about 1.07× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in South Carolina.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in South Carolina

OccupationMedian, South Carolina · Real change since 2019

1Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,840 – $64,000-35.8%-19.2% nominal
2Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$45,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,320 – $66,770-31.9%-14.3% nominal
3Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$38,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,590 – $55,330-26.4%-7.3% nominal
4Self-Enrichment Teachers$39,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,160 – $76,960-25.2%-5.8% nominal
5Dentists, General$158,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$96,920 – $310,840-24.7%-5.2% nominal
6Waiters and Waitresses$18,370
No formal educational credential
$15,080 – $46,820-21.8%-1.6% nominal
7English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$64,470
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,400 – $104,990-21.5%-1.1% nominal
8Business Teachers, Postsecondary$78,830
Doctoral or professional degree
$38,780 – $172,580-21.3%-0.9% nominal
9Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$59,170
Associate's degree
$35,330 – $101,090-21.2%-0.8% nominal
10Producers and Directors$56,030
Bachelor's degree
$38,760 – $136,360-21.2%-0.8% nominal
11Chief Executives$168,840
Bachelor's degree
$49,760 – $393,490-21.2%-0.8% nominal
12Coaches and Scouts$42,950
Bachelor's degree
$17,880 – $103,010-19.7%+1.2% nominal
13Instructional Coordinators$65,460
Master's degree
$38,120 – $104,290-19.7%+1.1% nominal
14Loan Officers$63,220
Bachelor's degree
$37,080 – $142,260-19.6%+1.2% nominal
15Education Administrators, Postsecondary$95,570
Master's degree
$60,190 – $177,740-19.2%+1.7% nominal
16Bartenders$19,370
No formal educational credential
$15,080 – $59,430-19.1%+1.8% nominal
17Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$62,420
Master's degree
$29,160 – $104,440-18.7%+2.4% nominal
18Operations Research Analysts$80,240
Bachelor's degree
$52,500 – $125,700-17.6%+3.8% nominal
19Rehabilitation Counselors$35,990
Master's degree
$30,900 – $55,310-17.3%+4.1% nominal
20Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,560 – $79,320-17.1%+4.4% nominal
21Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,900 – $66,490-17.1%+4.4% nominal
22Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$62,360
Bachelor's degree
$49,540 – $79,150-15.3%+6.7% nominal
23Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$46,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,700 – $64,920-15.2%+6.8% nominal
24Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$46,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,930 – $70,770-15.0%+7.0% nominal
25Pharmacists$135,700
Doctoral or professional degree
$82,430 – $170,270-15.0%+7.0% nominal
26Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,600 – $92,370-14.6%+7.5% nominal
27Healthcare Social Workers$60,840
Master's degree
$40,450 – $83,990-14.1%+8.1% nominal
28Engineers, All Other$110,490
Bachelor's degree
$65,240 – $180,960-13.8%+8.6% nominal
29Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$62,640
Master's degree
$36,490 – $92,890-13.3%+9.2% nominal
30Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$22,230
No formal educational credential
$17,600 – $34,110-13.2%+9.3% nominal
31Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$53,710
Associate's degree
$41,020 – $79,660-13.2%+9.4% nominal
32Computer User Support Specialists$52,080
Some college, no degree
$35,490 – $85,760-13.1%+9.4% nominal
33Parts Salespersons$32,180
No formal educational credential
$23,660 – $53,590-12.5%+10.2% nominal
34Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$62,150
Bachelor's degree
$49,330 – $83,020-12.2%+10.5% nominal
35Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$79,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,510 – $128,210-11.8%+11.1% nominal
36Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,640 – $104,050-11.8%+11.1% nominal
37Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$40,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,000 – $51,360-11.6%+11.3% nominal
38Commercial and Industrial Designers$77,300
Bachelor's degree
$33,580 – $125,090-11.3%+11.7% nominal
39Education Teachers, Postsecondary$66,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$33,150 – $105,770-10.9%+12.2% nominal
40Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$60,810
Bachelor's degree
$48,090 – $78,160-10.7%+12.4% nominal
41Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$58,960
Associate's degree
$38,170 – $101,670-10.4%+12.8% nominal
42Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,000 – $62,410-10.4%+12.9% nominal
43Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$62,580
Bachelor's degree
$48,740 – $80,700-10.2%+13.1% nominal
44Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$60,890
Bachelor's degree
$47,730 – $79,090-10.1%+13.2% nominal
45Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$55,280
Bachelor's degree
$36,420 – $81,930-9.9%+13.5% nominal
46Special Education Teachers, Middle School$62,310
Bachelor's degree
$48,900 – $81,280-9.8%+13.6% nominal
47Driver/Sales Workers$22,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$17,040 – $48,380-9.6%+13.8% nominal
48Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $142,370-9.4%+14.1% nominal
49Butchers and Meat Cutters$39,790
No formal educational credential
$31,150 – $47,980-9.3%+14.2% nominal
50Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,900 – $92,910-9.0%+14.6% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianSouth Carolina	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,210	$38,840 – $64,000	-35.8%-19.2% nominal
2	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,740	$35,320 – $66,770	-31.9%-14.3% nominal
3	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,670	$34,590 – $55,330	-26.4%-7.3% nominal
4	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,800	$22,160 – $76,960	-25.2%-5.8% nominal
5	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$158,640	$96,920 – $310,840	-24.7%-5.2% nominal
6	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$18,370	$15,080 – $46,820	-21.8%-1.6% nominal
7	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$64,470	$47,400 – $104,990	-21.5%-1.1% nominal
8	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,830	$38,780 – $172,580	-21.3%-0.9% nominal
9	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,170	$35,330 – $101,090	-21.2%-0.8% nominal
10	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$56,030	$38,760 – $136,360	-21.2%-0.8% nominal
11	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$168,840	$49,760 – $393,490	-21.2%-0.8% nominal
12	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$42,950	$17,880 – $103,010	-19.7%+1.2% nominal
13	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$65,460	$38,120 – $104,290	-19.7%+1.1% nominal
14	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$63,220	$37,080 – $142,260	-19.6%+1.2% nominal
15	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$95,570	$60,190 – $177,740	-19.2%+1.7% nominal
16	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$19,370	$15,080 – $59,430	-19.1%+1.8% nominal
17	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$62,420	$29,160 – $104,440	-18.7%+2.4% nominal
18	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$80,240	$52,500 – $125,700	-17.6%+3.8% nominal
19	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$35,990	$30,900 – $55,310	-17.3%+4.1% nominal
20	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,040	$37,560 – $79,320	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
21	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,040	$35,900 – $66,490	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
22	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,360	$49,540 – $79,150	-15.3%+6.7% nominal
23	Engine and Other Machine AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,950	$39,700 – $64,920	-15.2%+6.8% nominal
24	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,430	$35,930 – $70,770	-15.0%+7.0% nominal
25	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$135,700	$82,430 – $170,270	-15.0%+7.0% nominal
26	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$42,600 – $92,370	-14.6%+7.5% nominal
27	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$60,840	$40,450 – $83,990	-14.1%+8.1% nominal
28	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$110,490	$65,240 – $180,960	-13.8%+8.6% nominal
29	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$62,640	$36,490 – $92,890	-13.3%+9.2% nominal
30	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$22,230	$17,600 – $34,110	-13.2%+9.3% nominal
31	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$53,710	$41,020 – $79,660	-13.2%+9.4% nominal
32	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$52,080	$35,490 – $85,760	-13.1%+9.4% nominal
33	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$32,180	$23,660 – $53,590	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
34	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,150	$49,330 – $83,020	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
35	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$79,540	$60,510 – $128,210	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
36	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,370	$46,640 – $104,050	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
37	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$40,400	$33,000 – $51,360	-11.6%+11.3% nominal
38	Commercial and Industrial DesignersBachelor's degree	$77,300	$33,580 – $125,090	-11.3%+11.7% nominal
39	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$66,690	$33,150 – $105,770	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
40	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$60,810	$48,090 – $78,160	-10.7%+12.4% nominal
41	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$58,960	$38,170 – $101,670	-10.4%+12.8% nominal
42	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,420	$34,000 – $62,410	-10.4%+12.9% nominal
43	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$62,580	$48,740 – $80,700	-10.2%+13.1% nominal
44	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$60,890	$47,730 – $79,090	-10.1%+13.2% nominal
45	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$55,280	$36,420 – $81,930	-9.9%+13.5% nominal
46	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,310	$48,900 – $81,280	-9.8%+13.6% nominal
47	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$22,240	$17,040 – $48,380	-9.6%+13.8% nominal
48	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,250	$36,250 – $142,370	-9.4%+14.1% nominal
49	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$39,790	$31,150 – $47,980	-9.3%+14.2% nominal
50	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,480	$43,900 – $92,910	-9.0%+14.6% nominal

More for South Carolina

Metro areas in South Carolina

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in South Carolina

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in South Carolina to rank honestly.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in South Carolina

More for South Carolina

Metro areas in South Carolina

By field in South Carolina

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state