Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dentist Salary in South Carolina

The median dentist earns $158,640 a year in South Carolina, with most between $121,090 and $228,820.

25th percentile

$121,090

Entry / lower range

Median

$158,640

The typical pay

75th percentile

$228,820

Experienced / upper range

That's roughly $158,640 per year or $76.27/hr at the median. South Carolina runs about 7% below the national median.

Note: BLS figures reflect employed dentists. Many dentists own their practices, and owner earnings aren't included — which can make high-ownership areas read lower than you'd expect.

Top-paying metros in South Carolina

Metro area
Median
Typical range
Columbia
$228,820
$158,650–$310,840
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia
$189,220
$134,990–$215,600
Augusta-Richmond County
$153,510
$100,080–$210,040
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
$144,640
$121,050–$226,180
Spartanburg
$140,360
$122,110–$219,830
Greenville-Anderson-Greer
$139,940
$103,490–$222,500

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Figures are gross wages, not adjusted for cost of living.

What drives dentist pay in South Carolina

Pay for a dentistdepends on experience, setting, and metro. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) often sit toward the upper end of the range, since they compete for talent across multiple locations and can offer benefits and advancement a single practice can't.

Across dentistry, hiring is hard and getting harder: staffing is consistently ranked among dentists' top challenges, and open roles routinely take well over two months to fill. For candidates, that means leverage; for employers, it means speed and fit matter more than ever.

For dental pros

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Dentist salary in South Carolina: FAQ

What is the average dentist salary in South Carolina?

The median dentist salary in South Carolina is about $158,640 per year ($76.27/hr), based on BLS OEWS data (May 2025). Most earn between $121,090 and $228,820.

How does South Carolina compare to the national average?

At a $158,640 median, dentist pay in South Carolina runs about 7% below the national median. Local cost of living and demand drive most of the difference.

Which South Carolina cities pay dentists the most?

Among South Carolina metros, Columbia is at the top, with a median around $228,820.

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Other roles in South Carolina

Dentist salary by state