Bookkeeper salary and cost of hiring in South Carolina
The median bookkeeper in South Carolina earned $47,940 a year in May 2025[1], 5.4% below the US median of $50,670. That puts South Carolina at #37 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3031. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $33,370 | $47,940 | $68,870 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in South Carolina earns $39,810–$58,240; the top tenth earns $68,870 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 $68,486 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 bookkeepers 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 | $60,850 | 3,350 | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $63,500 | 850 | |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $58,520 | 3,770 | |
| Spartanburg, SC | $57,120 | 1,150 | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $57,840 | 1,370 | |
| Columbia, SC | $56,800 | 3,260 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $54,340 | 750 | |
| Florence, SC | $52,390 | 730 | |
| Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $52,450 | 650 | |
| Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $54,680 | 500 | |
| Sumter, SC | $54,160 | 280 |
Charleston-North Charleston, SC pays the most ($50,400) and Sumter, SC the least ($43,810): $6,590 a year apart for the same job.
What a bookkeeper does
A bookkeeper records the company's transactions, reconciles bank accounts, keeps receivables and payables in order and prepares the books for the accountant.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | +0.3% | |
| Missouri | +0.1% | |
| South Carolina | +0.0% | |
| North Carolina | -0.0% | |
| Wyoming | -0.1% |
Questions
How much does a bookkeeper earn in South Carolina?
The median was $47,940 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $39,810 to $58,240.
What does it cost to employ a bookkeeper in South Carolina?
About $68,486 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 bookkeepers earn the most?
Charleston-North Charleston, SC, with a median of $50,400 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433031.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.