The median math teacher salary in South Carolina was $62,580 for high school teachers and $60,810 for middle school teachers in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS reports pay for teachers of all subjects, including math. Both figures trail the national medians of $72,040 and $64,370.
If you’re sizing up the math teacher salary in South Carolina, your grade band matters less than you might expect. The state’s high school and middle school medians are only $1,770 apart. Where you teach, and how South Carolina compares with its neighbors, matter more. Every figure on this page is May 2025 BLS data, and you can compare other states on our math teacher salaries by state page.
South Carolina Math Teacher Salary by Grade Level
South Carolina employed 16,080 high school teachers and 9,750 middle school teachers in May 2025. The table shows each group’s median wage and the two upper percentiles BLS publishes. The 75th percentile is the wage that a quarter of teachers earn more than, and the 90th is the wage only one in ten earn more than.
| Occupation | Employed | Median Annual Wage | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High school teachers | 16,080 | $62,580 | $76,600 | $80,700 |
| Middle school teachers | 9,750 | $60,810 | $74,510 | $78,160 |
BLS doesn’t publish pay by years of experience. Your actual salary depends on your district’s salary schedule, which places you by years of service and degree level. Check the schedule of any district you apply to.
What Top-Earning Math Teachers Make in South Carolina
Pay at the top end is compressed in South Carolina. The 90th percentile for high school teachers is $80,700, just $18,120 above the state median. Nationally, the high school 90th percentile is $107,600, which is $35,560 above the national median. Middle school follows the same pattern: $78,160 at the 90th percentile in South Carolina against $102,540 nationally.
Charleston-North Charleston is the exception. Its high school 90th percentile is $96,460, the highest of any metro area in the BLS data for South Carolina.
How South Carolina Compares With Georgia, North Carolina and the US
South Carolina borders two states, Georgia and North Carolina, and this table covers both. Georgia pays the most of the three: its high school median is $12,900 above South Carolina’s, and its middle school median is $3,970 higher. North Carolina pays the least, $4,930 below South Carolina for high school and $8,800 below for middle school. For the details on that side of the border, see our guide to math teacher pay in North Carolina.
| Area | High School Median | Middle School Median |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $75,480 | $64,780 |
| South Carolina | $62,580 | $60,810 |
| North Carolina | $57,650 | $52,010 |
| United States | $72,040 | $64,370 |
Math Teacher Pay by South Carolina Metro Area
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal and Charleston-North Charleston lead for high school pay, at $65,290 and $65,280. Hilton Head also has the highest middle school median, $64,600. Columbia, the state capital, sits below the state median for both grade bands, at $60,280 and $59,400. Sumter has the lowest medians in the table, $60,110 for high school and $57,430 for middle school. Greenville-Anderson-Greer shows the widest gap between the two bands: $64,060 for high school against $58,360 for middle school.
This table lists all 10 metro areas in the BLS data that include part of South Carolina. The eight South Carolina metros come first. Augusta-Richmond County and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, listed last, are cross-border metros, and their figures cover both states. BLS released no middle school figures for Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach.
| Metro Area | High School Median | Middle School Median | Employed (High / Middle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $65,280 | $62,530 | 2,430 / 810 |
| Columbia, SC | $60,280 | $59,400 | 3,310 / 2,450 |
| Florence, SC | $60,950 | $60,250 | 700 / 420 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $64,060 | $58,360 | 2,700 / 1,840 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $65,290 | $64,600 | 680 / 370 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $62,580 | Not available | 790 / Not available |
| Spartanburg, SC | $62,910 | $62,270 | 1,120 / 1,060 |
| Sumter, SC | $60,110 | $57,430 | 310 / 190 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $63,420 | $60,060 | 1,430 / 1,590 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $60,300 | $59,110 | 8,500 / 6,270 |
Job Outlook for Math Teachers in South Carolina
Projections Central estimates a 2.8% increase in employment for high school teachers in South Carolina between 2024 and 2034, from 16,760 to 17,220 jobs, with an average of 1,110 openings per year. Middle school teacher employment is projected to grow 2.4%, from 8,940 to 9,160, with about 620 openings a year. The state’s projections are published on SC Works. These counts come from a different survey than the May 2025 wage data, so they won’t match the employment figures above.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects little or no change from 2025 to 2035. High school teacher jobs go from 1,087,500 to 1,085,000, and middle school teacher jobs go from 630,100 to 627,400. Retirements and turnover still open about 63,500 high school and 38,800 middle school positions each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do math teachers make in South Carolina?
High school teachers in South Carolina earned a median annual salary of $62,580 as of May 2025, and middle school teachers earned $60,810, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS reports these figures for teachers of all subjects, including math.
Do high school math teachers earn more than middle school math teachers in South Carolina?
Yes, but not by much. The statewide high school median is $1,770 higher than the middle school median. High school pay is higher in all nine metro areas with figures for both grade bands, and the widest gap is in Greenville-Anderson-Greer, at $5,700.
Which South Carolina metro area pays math teachers the most?
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal has the highest high school median, $65,290, just $10 ahead of Charleston-North Charleston at $65,280. Hilton Head also leads for middle school pay, at $64,600. Charleston has the highest top-end pay, with a high school 90th percentile of $96,460.
How does South Carolina math teacher pay compare with Georgia and North Carolina?
South Carolina sits between its two neighbors. Georgia’s high school median is $75,480 and North Carolina’s is $57,650, against $62,580 in South Carolina. For middle school, Georgia pays $64,780, South Carolina $60,810 and North Carolina $52,010.
Are math teacher jobs growing in South Carolina?
Projections Central estimates 2.8% employment growth for high school teachers in South Carolina between 2024 and 2034, with about 1,110 openings a year. Middle school teachers are projected to grow 2.4%, with about 620 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects little or no change for either occupation from 2025 to 2035.
- State medians: South Carolina high school teachers earned a $62,580 median in May 2025, and middle school teachers earned $60,810.
- Below national: Both medians trail the national figures of $72,040 for high school and $64,370 for middle school.
- Neighbors: Georgia pays more than South Carolina at both grade levels, and North Carolina pays less.
- Metros: Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal and Charleston-North Charleston have the highest high school medians, and Sumter has the lowest.
- Outlook: Employment is projected to grow 2.8% for high school and 2.4% for middle school teachers in South Carolina from 2024 to 2034.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Middle School Teachers and High School Teachers, which include teachers of all subjects. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026. National job outlook figures (2025-2035) are from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
If you’re planning to teach math in South Carolina, check whether a program leads to initial certification or to a graduate degree you can finish while teaching. The schools listed here include online options built around a working schedule.