Administrative Assistant salary and cost of hiring in South Carolina
The median administrative assistant in South Carolina earned $44,880 a year in May 2025[1], 5.6% below the US median of $47,540. That puts South Carolina at #37 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-6014. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $29,100 | $44,880 | $61,660 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
The middle half of administrative assistants in South Carolina earns $36,880–$52,420; the top tenth earns $61,660 or more, 2.1 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the South Carolina median that makes about $64,114 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for administrative assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in South Carolina
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $55,640 | 4,420 | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $57,300 | 1,060 | |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $53,110 | 4,870 | |
| Columbia, SC | $53,790 | 6,610 | |
| Spartanburg, SC | $51,040 | 1,700 | |
| Florence, SC | $50,520 | 1,050 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $50,850 | 1,100 | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $49,340 | 1,770 | |
| Sumter, SC | $49,700 | 410 | |
| Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48,200 | 790 | |
| Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,970 | 1,040 |
Charleston-North Charleston, SC pays the most ($47,750) and Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area the least ($38,480): $9,270 a year apart for the same job.
What an administrative assistant does
An administrative assistant keeps the office running on paper and online: documents, data, scheduling, orders and the many small requests that land on a small team every day.
Neighbours in the ranking
Questions
How much does an administrative assistant earn in South Carolina?
The median was $44,880 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $36,880 to $52,420.
What does it cost to employ an administrative assistant in South Carolina?
About $64,114 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in South Carolina do administrative assistants earn the most?
Charleston-North Charleston, SC, with a median of $47,750 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes436014.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.