Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
Greenville, SC Average Salary 2026
Cost of living, occupation-by-occupation pay, and percentile ranges from official BLS data.
The average salary in Greenville, SC, South Carolina is $98,325 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (2025 reference period) covering 62 occupations and roughly 72,550 workers. Adjusted for Greenville, SC's cost-of-living index of 90.1, that nominal average translates to $109,129 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. The highest-paying tracked occupation is Family Medicine Physician at $231,790; the lowest is Automotive Technician at $48,120.
Greenville, SC, SC has below-baseline cost-of-living (index 90.1), which means the $98,325 average median wage translates to higher real purchasing power than the same number would in higher-COL markets.
Highest-paying role in Greenville, SC on BLS data is Family Medicine Physician at $231,790 median. Top-paying roles in any U.S. city skew toward physicians, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals; the specific ranking varies with the local industry mix. Lower-COL cities like Greenville, SC often outperform higher-COL ones on cost-adjusted real income for the same role, especially for workers in mid-paying occupations whose gross wages do not vary as much by city.
Salaries by Occupation in Greenville, SC
| Role | Category | Median | Range (10th–90th) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $231,790 | $103,630 – $330,370 | 310 |
| Pediatrician | Healthcare | $227,540 | $119,020 – $323,550 | 180 |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $161,180 | $97,620 – $228,700 | 870 |
| Computer Network Architect | Technology | $161,170 | $89,990 – $185,160 | 390 |
| Optometrist | Healthcare | $149,380 | $44,470 – $168,920 | 70 |
| Marketing Manager | Management | $148,480 | $78,160 – $243,140 | 720 |
| Financial Manager | Finance | $145,610 | $80,870 – $296,790 | 1,880 |
| Dentist | Healthcare | $139,940 | $51,850 – $318,010 | 540 |
| Pharmacist | Healthcare | $135,580 | $73,610 – $164,810 | 900 |
| Sales Manager | Management | $129,090 | $60,400 – $226,450 | 1,770 |
| Human Resources Manager | Management | $126,550 | $74,030 – $222,820 | 480 |
| Lawyer | Legal | $124,970 | $70,540 – $341,840 | 1,290 |
| Veterinarian | Healthcare | $123,920 | $47,470 – $177,710 | 320 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $123,310 | $51,850 – $164,990 | 440 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $121,790 | $67,630 – $197,880 | 2,070 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $119,280 | $81,910 – $145,570 | 1,120 |
| Information Security Analyst | Technology | $108,050 | $61,430 – $162,930 | 260 |
| General and Operations Manager | Management | $106,750 | $57,470 – $222,130 | 5,780 |
| Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $105,400 | $76,430 – $169,040 | 280 |
| Architect | Engineering | $103,090 | $61,970 – $157,660 | 290 |
| Civil Engineer | Engineering | $102,830 | $65,330 – $160,610 | 1,170 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $102,340 | $75,710 – $116,510 | 400 |
| Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $101,620 | $73,800 – $165,270 | 690 |
| Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $101,570 | $78,820 – $165,710 | 1,800 |
| Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $101,300 | $76,590 – $133,360 | 2,670 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $101,020 | $78,390 – $121,620 | 940 |
| Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $100,740 | $66,560 – $201,580 | 1,650 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $99,830 | $59,850 – $141,640 | 1,120 |
| Computer Programmer | Technology | $99,520 | $65,410 – $180,620 | 130 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $97,090 | $48,060 – $277,020 | 420 |
| Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $96,960 | $48,820 – $133,680 | 210 |
| Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $96,130 | $33,760 – $162,650 | 550 |
| Network Architect | Technology | $95,740 | $65,700 – $161,880 | 650 |
| Data Scientist | Technology | $91,490 | $61,110 – $138,280 | 660 |
| Financial Analyst | Finance | $89,040 | $59,650 – $146,450 | 800 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $88,610 | $52,040 – $118,670 | 330 |
| Database Architect | Technology | $86,800 | $53,190 – $133,380 | 180 |
| Management Analyst | Management | $86,330 | $49,560 – $161,210 | 1,700 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $85,290 | $78,090 – $96,850 | 600 |
| Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $82,140 | $38,780 – $155,650 | 290 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $81,400 | $68,530 – $100,630 | 9,730 |
| Audiologist | Healthcare | $80,000 | $80,000 – $97,980 | 60 |
| Financial Examiner | Finance | $78,290 | $48,530 – $156,880 | 120 |
| Accountant | Finance | $76,870 | $52,090 – $130,420 | 2,890 |
| Web Designer | Technology | $75,390 | $45,760 – $122,490 | 110 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $75,360 | $48,640 – $109,360 | 400 |
| Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $73,280 | $52,170 – $126,510 | 250 |
| Market Research Analyst | Management | $71,910 | $42,430 – $142,680 | 2,430 |
| Secondary School Teacher | Education | $64,060 | $49,390 – $81,900 | 2,700 |
| Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $63,310 | $39,520 – $143,940 | 470 |
| Loan Officer | Finance | $61,990 | $37,590 – $135,010 | 790 |
| Elementary School Teacher | Education | $60,680 | $48,800 – $75,990 | 4,390 |
| Electrician | Trades | $60,210 | $45,910 – $77,840 | 1,670 |
| Graphic Designer | Creative | $58,500 | $39,140 – $89,670 | 490 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $57,780 | $39,060 – $76,180 | 1,600 |
| Statistician | Technology | $56,610 | $31,400 – $118,550 | 40 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $53,070 | $34,630 – $84,820 | 990 |
| Plumber | Trades | $50,890 | $36,690 – $79,890 | 960 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $50,090 | $35,460 – $76,110 | 1,340 |
| Writer/Author | Creative | $49,980 | $42,490 – $95,540 | 130 |
| Welder | Trades | $49,130 | $39,990 – $63,340 | 1,760 |
| Automotive Technician | Trades | $48,120 | $32,810 – $76,580 | 2,310 |
What These Numbers Tell You
The single highest-paying occupation tracked in Greenville, SC is Family Medicine Physician, with a median of $231,790 and a 90th-percentile reading of $330,370. That $226,740 spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles is typical for a role of this seniority — entry-level workers cluster near the bottom of the band, while senior specialists and managers earn at the top.
Across all 62 BLS-tracked occupations in Greenville, SC, the average median salary is $98,325. The top five roles average $186,212 — about 1.9× the citywide average — which is the expected shape for a U.S. metro economy: a small concentration of high-skill, high-credential occupations sits well above the broader middle.
Greenville, SC runs below the U.S. average on cost of living (index 90.1, about 10% below the national mean). Lower nominal salaries here often translate to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs.
Salary Negotiation in Greenville, SC
For salary negotiation in Greenville, SC, the practical input is the percentile band for your role and city, not the citywide average. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages for every metro and occupation; you can find your role's exact percentile in the table above and use the SalaryTruth percentile calculator to anchor your offer. Cost-of-living index 90.1 should also factor in any cross-metro comparison.
For city-vs-city moves, the right benchmark is COL-adjusted pay rather than nominal pay. Our COL-adjusted salaries guide shows the exact math; the negotiation playbook covers how to use BLS percentile bands to anchor offers.
How Greenville, SC Salary Data Is Built
Wages on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program — a federal survey of more than 1.2 million U.S. establishments, published once per year by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. We pull the BLS data file for Greenville, SC, match each occupation against our role catalog, and surface percentile wages alongside employment counts. The cost-of-living index (90.1) is a composite of housing, food, transportation, and utility data from public sources, calibrated to a U.S. national average of 100. Read the full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in Greenville, SC in 2026?
The average salary in Greenville, SC is $98,325 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2025 release covering 62 occupations. The mean (employment-weighted average) gives slightly more weight to large occupations; the median across roles is also close to $98,325. The top-paying role is Family Medicine Physician at $231,790.
Is $100,000 a good salary in Greenville, SC?
In Greenville, SC, $100,000 has the purchasing power of $110,988 in an average-cost U.S. metro (COL index 90.1). That is above $100K of buying power — a $100K salary stretches further in Greenville, SC than in most U.S. metros. Compared to the city's average median of $98,325, $100K is above the typical worker.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Greenville, SC?
The top-paying tracked occupations in Greenville, SC are Family Medicine Physician ($231,790), Pediatrician ($227,540), Computer and Information Systems Manager ($161,180), and Computer Network Architect ($161,170). Across the top 10, median salaries range from $129,090 to $231,790. See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/greenville.
How does Greenville, SC's cost of living affect salaries?
Greenville, SC has a cost-of-living index of 90.1, 10% below the U.S. national average. A nominal salary of $98,325 in this metro has the equivalent purchasing power of $109,129 in an average-cost U.S. city. Housing is the dominant driver of this gap; in higher-COL markets, mortgage or rent typically eats 5–15 percentage points more of pre-tax pay than in average-cost metros.
How many people are employed in Greenville, SC?
Across the 62 BLS-tracked occupations on this page, total employment in the Greenville, SC metro is approximately 72,550. BLS OEWS sample-based estimates cover all major occupational categories but exclude very small or volatile fields where the sample is too thin to publish.
Where does this Greenville, SC salary data come from?
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. The same data is used by the U.S. Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Greenville, SC MSA, 2026 release. Public domain. See bls.gov/oes. Cite as: "SalaryTruth, BLS OEWS 2026."
Last refreshed 2026-05-21 · 62 occupations · COL Index 90.1.