HR Assistant salary and cost of hiring in South Carolina
The median HR assistant in South Carolina earned $45,300 a year in May 2025[1], 10.5% below the US median of $50,610. That puts South Carolina at #46 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-4161. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $33,620 | $45,300 | $58,410 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in South Carolina earns $38,850–$52,420; the top tenth earns $58,410 or more, 1.7 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 $64,714 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 HR 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 | $54,930 | 160 | |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $52,990 | 180 | |
| Columbia, SC | $52,440 | 380 | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $51,630 | n/a | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $51,150 | 50 | |
| Spartanburg, SC | $50,800 | 90 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $50,520 | 30 |
Charleston-North Charleston, SC pays the most ($47,840) and Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area the least ($39,630): $8,210 a year apart for the same job.
What an HR assistant does
An HR assistant runs the admin side of people work: job posts, interview scheduling, onboarding paperwork, employee records and HR questions.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | +1.1% | |
| Tennessee | +1.0% | |
| South Carolina | +0.0% | |
| South Dakota | -0.3% | |
| Oklahoma | -0.8% |
Questions
How much does an HR assistant earn in South Carolina?
The median was $45,300 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $38,850 to $52,420.
What does it cost to employ an HR assistant in South Carolina?
About $64,714 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 HR assistants earn the most?
Charleston-North Charleston, SC, with a median of $47,840 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434161.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.