Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in South Carolina
The median payroll specialist in South Carolina earned $52,240 a year in May 2025[1], 10.3% below the US median of $58,260. That puts South Carolina at #39 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $38,180 | $52,240 | $77,660 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in South Carolina earns $45,500–$62,400; the top tenth earns $77,660 or more, 2.0 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 $74,629 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 payroll specialists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SC | $63,810 | 110 | |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $69,680 | 280 | |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $65,680 | 280 | |
| Columbia, SC | $62,100 | 220 | |
| Florence, SC | $64,260 | 60 | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $55,970 | 60 | |
| Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $56,630 | 50 | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $63,380 | 40 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $62,400 | 70 |
Spartanburg, SC pays the most ($54,150) and Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area the least ($47,800): $6,350 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | +1.9% | |
| Kentucky | +1.2% | |
| South Carolina | +0.0% | |
| Wyoming | -0.6% | |
| Florida | -0.6% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in South Carolina?
The median was $52,240 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $45,500 to $62,400.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in South Carolina?
About $74,629 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 payroll specialists earn the most?
Spartanburg, SC, with a median of $54,150 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.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.