Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
62 Highest Paying Jobs in Greenville, SC (2026)
The highest-paying job in Greenville, SC, South Carolina is Family Medicine Physician with a median salary of $231,790 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. Across all 62 tracked occupations the average median is $98,325, with 27 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Greenville, SC has a cost-of-living index of 90.1 (national average = 100), so a $98,325 nominal salary equals $109,129 in average-cost-metro buying power.
The 62 occupations below are ranked by median wage in Greenville, SC, SC, from BLS OEWS data. Greenville, SC's cost-of-living index runs 90.1 (national baseline = 100), which shapes the headline-wage interpretation. Top-paying occupations in any U.S. metro typically cluster around physicians, dentists, executives, tech specialists, and licensed professionals. The specific top of the list varies with local industry concentration: tech-heavy metros boost software-engineering ranks, finance-heavy metros boost banking ranks.
Each role on the ranking links to the per-role-and-city page with full percentile distribution (p10 to p90), employment count, and cost-adjusted wage. For workers comparing offers within Greenville, SC, the percentile data is the most decision-relevant.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Greenville, SC
Ranked by median (50th percentile) salary. The COL-Adjusted column rebases each nominal salary to Greenville, SC's cost-of-living index of 90.1 so you can compare buying power against an average-cost U.S. metro.
Median $231,790 · 10th–90th $103,630–$330,370 · 310 jobs in metro
Family Medicine Physicians in Greenville, SC earn $231,790 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $330,370. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $257,259 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $227,540 · 10th–90th $119,020–$323,550 · 180 jobs in metro
Pediatricians in Greenville, SC earn $227,540 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $323,550. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $252,542 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $161,180 · 10th–90th $97,620–$228,700 · 870 jobs in metro
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Greenville, SC earn $161,180 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $228,700. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $178,890 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $161,170 · 10th–90th $89,990–$185,160 · 390 jobs in metro
Computer Network Architects in Greenville, SC earn $161,170 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $185,160. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $178,879 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $149,380 · 10th–90th $44,470–$168,920 · 70 jobs in metro
Optometrists in Greenville, SC earn $149,380 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $168,920. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $165,794 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $148,480 · 10th–90th $78,160–$243,140 · 720 jobs in metro
Marketing Managers in Greenville, SC earn $148,480 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $243,140. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $164,795 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $145,610 · 10th–90th $80,870–$296,790 · 1,880 jobs in metro
Financial Managers in Greenville, SC earn $145,610 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $296,790. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $161,609 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $139,940 · 10th–90th $51,850–$318,010 · 540 jobs in metro
Dentists in Greenville, SC earn $139,940 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $318,010. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $155,316 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $135,580 · 10th–90th $73,610–$164,810 · 900 jobs in metro
Pharmacists in Greenville, SC earn $135,580 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $164,810. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $150,477 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Median $129,090 · 10th–90th $60,400–$226,450 · 1,770 jobs in metro
Sales Managers in Greenville, SC earn $129,090 median, with top earners (90th percentile) over $226,450. The lower cost of living here means the median translates to $143,274 of buying power versus an average-cost metro — better than the nominal number suggests.
Full Ranking (62 Occupations)
| Rank | Role | Category | Median | 10th–90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $231,790 | $103,630–$330,370 | $257,259 | 310 |
| 2 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $227,540 | $119,020–$323,550 | $252,542 | 180 |
| 3 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $161,180 | $97,620–$228,700 | $178,890 | 870 |
| 4 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $161,170 | $89,990–$185,160 | $178,879 | 390 |
| 5 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $149,380 | $44,470–$168,920 | $165,794 | 70 |
| 6 | Marketing Manager | Management | $148,480 | $78,160–$243,140 | $164,795 | 720 |
| 7 | Financial Manager | Finance | $145,610 | $80,870–$296,790 | $161,609 | 1,880 |
| 8 | Dentist | Healthcare | $139,940 | $51,850–$318,010 | $155,316 | 540 |
| 9 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $135,580 | $73,610–$164,810 | $150,477 | 900 |
| 10 | Sales Manager | Management | $129,090 | $60,400–$226,450 | $143,274 | 1,770 |
| 11 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $126,550 | $74,030–$222,820 | $140,455 | 480 |
| 12 | Lawyer | Legal | $124,970 | $70,540–$341,840 | $138,701 | 1,290 |
| 13 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $123,920 | $47,470–$177,710 | $137,536 | 320 |
| 14 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $123,310 | $51,850–$164,990 | $136,859 | 440 |
| 15 | Software Developer | Technology | $121,790 | $67,630–$197,880 | $135,172 | 2,070 |
| 16 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $119,280 | $81,910–$145,570 | $132,386 | 1,120 |
| 17 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $108,050 | $61,430–$162,930 | $119,922 | 260 |
| 18 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $106,750 | $57,470–$222,130 | $118,479 | 5,780 |
| 19 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $105,400 | $76,430–$169,040 | $116,981 | 280 |
| 20 | Architect | Engineering | $103,090 | $61,970–$157,660 | $114,417 | 290 |
| 21 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $102,830 | $65,330–$160,610 | $114,129 | 1,170 |
| 22 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $102,340 | $75,710–$116,510 | $113,585 | 400 |
| 23 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $101,620 | $73,800–$165,270 | $112,786 | 690 |
| 24 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $101,570 | $78,820–$165,710 | $112,730 | 1,800 |
| 25 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $101,300 | $76,590–$133,360 | $112,431 | 2,670 |
| 26 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $101,020 | $78,390–$121,620 | $112,120 | 940 |
| 27 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $100,740 | $66,560–$201,580 | $111,809 | 1,650 |
| 28 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $99,830 | $59,850–$141,640 | $110,799 | 1,120 |
| 29 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $99,520 | $65,410–$180,620 | $110,455 | 130 |
| 30 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $97,090 | $48,060–$277,020 | $107,758 | 420 |
| 31 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $96,960 | $48,820–$133,680 | $107,614 | 210 |
| 32 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $96,130 | $33,760–$162,650 | $106,693 | 550 |
| 33 | Network Architect | Technology | $95,740 | $65,700–$161,880 | $106,260 | 650 |
| 34 | Data Scientist | Technology | $91,490 | $61,110–$138,280 | $101,543 | 660 |
| 35 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $89,040 | $59,650–$146,450 | $98,824 | 800 |
| 36 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $88,610 | $52,040–$118,670 | $98,346 | 330 |
| 37 | Database Architect | Technology | $86,800 | $53,190–$133,380 | $96,337 | 180 |
| 38 | Management Analyst | Management | $86,330 | $49,560–$161,210 | $95,816 | 1,700 |
| 39 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $85,290 | $78,090–$96,850 | $94,661 | 600 |
| 40 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $82,140 | $38,780–$155,650 | $91,165 | 290 |
| 41 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $81,400 | $68,530–$100,630 | $90,344 | 9,730 |
| 42 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $80,000 | $80,000–$97,980 | $88,790 | 60 |
| 43 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $78,290 | $48,530–$156,880 | $86,892 | 120 |
| 44 | Accountant | Finance | $76,870 | $52,090–$130,420 | $85,316 | 2,890 |
| 45 | Web Designer | Technology | $75,390 | $45,760–$122,490 | $83,674 | 110 |
| 46 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $75,360 | $48,640–$109,360 | $83,640 | 400 |
| 47 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $73,280 | $52,170–$126,510 | $81,332 | 250 |
| 48 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $71,910 | $42,430–$142,680 | $79,811 | 2,430 |
| 49 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $64,060 | $49,390–$81,900 | $71,099 | 2,700 |
| 50 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $63,310 | $39,520–$143,940 | $70,266 | 470 |
| 51 | Loan Officer | Finance | $61,990 | $37,590–$135,010 | $68,801 | 790 |
| 52 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $60,680 | $48,800–$75,990 | $67,347 | 4,390 |
| 53 | Electrician | Trades | $60,210 | $45,910–$77,840 | $66,826 | 1,670 |
| 54 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $58,500 | $39,140–$89,670 | $64,928 | 490 |
| 55 | Paralegal | Legal | $57,780 | $39,060–$76,180 | $64,129 | 1,600 |
| 56 | Statistician | Technology | $56,610 | $31,400–$118,550 | $62,830 | 40 |
| 57 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $53,070 | $34,630–$84,820 | $58,901 | 990 |
| 58 | Plumber | Trades | $50,890 | $36,690–$79,890 | $56,482 | 960 |
| 59 | Carpenter | Trades | $50,090 | $35,460–$76,110 | $55,594 | 1,340 |
| 60 | Writer/Author | Creative | $49,980 | $42,490–$95,540 | $55,472 | 130 |
| 61 | Welder | Trades | $49,130 | $39,990–$63,340 | $54,528 | 1,760 |
| 62 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $48,120 | $32,810–$76,580 | $53,407 | 2,310 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Greenville, SC
Greenville, SC's pay distribution reflects its mix of regional employers and industries, plus the local cost of living that affects nominal salary levels in the BLS data.
An average median salary above $90K places this metro in the top tier of U.S. cities for nominal pay. Most of that premium accrues to the upper percentiles of skilled and managerial occupations; entry-level and service-sector pay is closer to national norms.
Greenville, SC's cost-of-living index of 90.1 runs 10% below the U.S. national average. Lower nominal pay here often translates to comparable or better purchasing power than higher headline numbers in coastal hubs — see the COL-Adjusted column for the apples-to-apples figure.
How to Use This Ranking
For salary negotiation, the median is a starting anchor — not the ceiling. A Family Medicine Physician with five-plus years of experience in Greenville, SC should be benchmarking against the 75th percentile ($281,080) or 90th percentile ($330,370), not the $231,790 median. Use the salary percentile calculator to place any specific salary into the BLS distribution for any role-and-city pair.
For cross-city comparisons, ignore the nominal Median column and look at COL-Adjusted. A $232K Family Medicine Physician salary in Greenville, SC (COL 90.1) translates to $257K of buying power in an average-cost metro — that is the apples-to-apples figure when weighing a relocation. Read the methodology behind these adjustments in our methodology page.
For job hunting, focus on the top-10 ranking above and on the role-by-role detail pages — each links through to a Family Medicine Physician in Greenville, SC page with full percentile breakdowns, year-over-year change, and prevailing-wage references for H-1B / PERM applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Greenville, SC is Family Medicine Physician with a median salary of $231,790 and a 90th-percentile reading of $330,370. The role employs roughly 310 workers in this metro according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2025 OEWS data.
27 of the 62 BLS-tracked occupations in Greenville, SC have a median salary of $100,000 or higher. That is well above what most U.S. metros offer. See the full list ranked by median salary above.
Across 62 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Greenville, SC is $98,325. The cost-of-living index is 90.1, so adjusted to a national-average baseline, the average is $109,129 in equivalent purchasing power.
Greenville, SC has a cost-of-living index of 90.1, below the national average. Nominal pay translates better than face value, making it a strong choice for many careers — particularly the Family Medicine Physician, Pediatrician, Computer and Information Systems Manager occupations at the top of the ranking.
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 across all industries. The OEWS publishes 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile wages by Metropolitan Statistical Area and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The same data is used by the Department of Labor for prevailing wage determinations.
Related Pages
Rankings based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 reference period. COL adjustments use a composite cost-of-living index calibrated to U.S. average = 100.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.