South Carolina

These 8 SC counties have the highest average weekly wages, new federal data shows

A man counts his money.
A man counts his money. AFP via Getty Images

Have you seen an increase in your weekly paycheck in the past year?

Jobs in South Carolina may not pay you as much as others in different states, but new federal data shows that many SC counties are seeing a significant wage increase.

Between 2024 and 2025, SC’s average weekly wage increased to $1,198, which is a 4.9% increase, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Labor that measures labor market activity.

As a result, SC’s average weekly wage is one of the fastest-growing, ranking 11th in the country for its increase. The report only shows the percentage change increase of average weekly wages for each state and SC’s seven largest counties.

The nation’s average weekly wage is $1,469, and SC’s average weekly wage is the 38th highest in the nation. All SC counties have average weekly wages less than the national average.

Here are the 8 counties in SC with the highest weekly wages:

8 SC counties with the highest average weekly wages

#1. Charleston County

Charleston County increased its average weekly wage to $1,363, which is the highest in the state. Charleston also had the largest increase, gaining 6.2% in a year.

#2. Berkeley County

Berkeley County has the second-highest average weekly wage in SC, at $1,302.

#3. Aiken County

The average weekly wage in Aiken County is $1,252.

#4. Greenville County

Greenville County, the most populous county in SC, which also employs the most people in the state, has an average weekly wage of $1,240. Greenville’s average weekly wage increased by 4.5% in a year.

#5. Richland County

Richland County has the fifth-highest average weekly wage in SC, totaling to $1,226. It increased by 3.5% between 2024 and 2025.

#6. Lancaster County

The average weekly wage in Lancaster County is $1,218.

#7. Calhoun County

Cakhoun County’s average weekly wage is $1,195.

#8. York County

York County’s average weekly wage increased by 3.2% between 2024 and 2025, raising it to $1,176.

DB
Damian Bertrand
The State
Damian Bertrand is a service journalism reporter covering South Carolina for McClatchy Media. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina.
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