Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary in South Carolina
The median dental specialist earns $246,770 a year in South Carolina ($118.64 an hour), with the middle half earning between $227,490 and $264,030.[1]
25th percentile
$227,490
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$246,770
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$264,030
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $246,770 per year or $118.64/hr at the median. South Carolina runs about 10% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in South Carolina
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental specialists in South Carolina earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | South Carolina hourly | South Carolina annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $95.95 | $199,580 | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $109.37 | $227,490 | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $118.64 | $246,770 | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $126.94 | $264,030 | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $132.05 | $274,670 | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $116.79 | $242,930 | $119.20 | $247,930 |
How many dental specialists work in South Carolina
70
0.03
0.90
How South Carolina compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $246,770 in South Carolina vs. $224,990 nationally, $21,780 (10%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $199,580 vs. $104,120, 92% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $274,670 vs. $402,700, 32% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -3% in South Carolina vs. 0% nationally.
Job outlook for dental specialists in South Carolina
South Carolina's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 3% over 2024–2034, from 70 to 60 jobs, with about 0 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 0%.
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
What drives dental specialist pay in South Carolina
Pay for a dental specialist depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
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Dental Specialist salary in South Carolina: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make in South Carolina?
The median annual wage for dental specialists in South Carolina was $246,770 ($118.64 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $227,490 and $264,030. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $199,580 and the top 10% earned over $274,670. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dental specialists in South Carolina earn more than the national median?
Yes. The South Carolina median of $246,770 is higher than the U.S. median of $224,990. That is $21,780 (10%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
How many dental specialists work in South Carolina?
BLS estimates 70 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in South Carolina in May 2025. That is 0.03 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.90, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental specialists growing in South Carolina?
South Carolina's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 3% over 2024–2034, from 70 to 60 jobs. That works out to about 0 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 0%.
Hiring in South Carolina?
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Other roles in South Carolina
- Dental Hygienist salary in South Carolina
- Dental Assistant salary in South Carolina
- Dentist salary in South Carolina
- Dental Front Office salary in South Carolina
- Dental Office Manager salary in South Carolina
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in South Carolina
- Dental Lab Technician salary in South Carolina
Dental Specialist salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, All Other Specialists (29-1029), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, South Carolina long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, All Other Specialists