RateOrchard
DATA PROFILE · 2024

Physicists salary in South Carolina

Steadymarket
offers
heat45/100

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated April 27, 2026
Median annual$131,100
Mean annual$153,260
Range (10th to 90th)$101,940 to $222,210
South Carolina employment370
State vs national-19.0% vs national

Salary distribution

Where South Carolina physicists fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$101,94025TH$104,770MEDIAN$131,10075TH$163,26090TH$222,210

The middle 50% of workers earn between $104,770 and $163,260, with a median of $131,100.

Real disclosed salaries

Physicists in South Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 5 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $169,146. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.

By DOL wage level

DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry2$66,551
Level II — qualified3$170,000

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in South Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
Medical University of South Carolina and AffiliatesMedical Physicist, Assistant Professor2$170,000
McLeod Regional Medical Center of the Pee Dee, Inc.Therapeutic Medical Physicist1$169,146
Clemson UniversityPostdoctoral Fellow1$70,000
Medical University of South Carolina & AffiliatesDiagnostic Medical Physicist Resident1$63,101

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Therapeutic Medical Physicist at McLeod Regional Medical Center of the Pee Dee, Inc.
    $169,146
    FlorenceWage Level IIDecided Sep 16, 2025I-200-25252-296393
  • Postdoctoral Fellow at Clemson University
    $70,000
    ClemsonWage Level IDecided Jun 23, 2025I-200-25167-094389
  • Medical Physicist, Assistant Professor at Medical University of South Carolina and Affiliates
    $170,000
    North CharlestonWage Level IIDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-030984
  • Diagnostic Medical Physicist Resident at Medical University of South Carolina & Affiliates
    $63,101
    CharlestonWage Level IDecided Mar 24, 2025I-200-25076-781897
  • Medical Physicist, Assistant Professor at Medical University of South Carolina and Affiliates
    $170,000
    CharlestonWage Level IIDecided Jun 5, 2025I-200-25149-030985

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.

By seniority

Physicists pay by experience level in South Carolina

Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.

Pay by industry

Physicists in South Carolina, by industry

Median offered wage across 5 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $120,000.

IndustryLargest employerFilingsMedian offer
EducationMedical University of South Carolina and Affiliates4$120,000
HealthcareMcLeod Regional Medical Center of the Pee Dee, Inc.1$169,146

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in South Carolina over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Median annual wage, South Carolina2023 to 2024
$127,7802023$131,1002024

Typical entry

  • Education

    Doctoral or professional degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Physics

    Knowledge

    4.9 / 5
  • Mathematics

    Knowledge

    4.8 / 5
  • Mathematical Reasoning

    Ability

    4.8 / 5
  • Science

    Basic skill

    4.6 / 5
  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge

    4.5 / 5
  • Computers and Electronics

    Knowledge

    4.4 / 5
  • Mathematics

    Basic skill

    4.3 / 5
  • Reading Comprehension

    Basic skill

    4.3 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.

  2. 02

    Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.

  3. 03

    Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.

  4. 04

    Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.

  5. 05

    Write research proposals to receive funding.

  6. 06

    Teach physics to students.

  7. 07

    Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.

  8. 08

    Conduct research pertaining to potential environmental impacts of atomic energy-related industrial development to determine licensing qualifications.

10-year outlook

Growth 2024 → 2034

+4.1%

Projected annual openings

BLS outlook

Average growth

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 20242034 cycle.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Physicists in South Carolina?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physicists in South Carolina is $131,100.
How does South Carolina compare to the national median for Physicists?
The South Carolina median is -19.0% versus the BLS national figure of $161,819.
What is the salary range for Physicists in South Carolina?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $101,940 and the 90th-percentile at $222,210, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
Is Physicists a growing field?
BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
What education is required for Physicists?
BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Disclaimer

Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.