Travel Nurse Pay in South Carolina (2026)
South Carolina pairs below-average staff pay with fast-growing coastal demand, a freshly cut income tax and zero licensure friction. Here is what the numbers say.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Pay measure | South Carolina | U.S. overall |
|---|---|---|
| Staff RN median hourly wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $39.60 | $46.90 |
| Staff RN median annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $82,360 | $97,550 |
| Staff RN mean annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $87,670 | $101,420 |
| Registered nurses employed (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | 49,750 | 3,379,720 |
Travel nurse pay in South Carolina: the numbers
The baseline sits below national. Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey (May 2025), South Carolina employs 49,750 registered nurses — about 21.6 per 1,000 jobs — at a median wage of $39.60 an hour ($82,360 a year), with a mean of $87,670. The national median is $46.90 an hour ($97,550), so South Carolina staff RNs trail it by about 16%. Rapid population growth along the coast keeps demand structurally ahead of the state's nurse pipeline, which is what sustains travel volume. The tax row improved for 2026: South Carolina collapsed its brackets to 1.99% on taxable income under $30,000 and 5.21% above it, down from a 6.2% top rate, per the SC Department of Revenue.
| Pay measure | South Carolina | U.S. overall |
|---|---|---|
| Staff RN median hourly wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $39.60 | $46.90 |
| Staff RN median annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $82,360 | $97,550 |
| Staff RN mean annual wage (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | $87,670 | $101,420 |
| Registered nurses employed (BLS OEWS, May 2025) | 49,750 | 3,379,720 |
| Typical travel gross package (hedged — varies by specialty, facility, season) | roughly $1,600–$2,400/week | roughly $1,800–$3,200/week |
| State income tax on wages, 2026 | 1.99% under $30,000; 5.21% above | varies by state |
Treat the travel band as hedged market context, not a quote: routine med-surg in a suburban Columbia hospital can land below it, while ICU, NICU and L&D contracts at the Charleston academic medical center and the Upstate systems routinely clear the top, and seasonal Grand Strand contracts swing hardest of all. South Carolina has been a Nurse Licensure Compact member since January 19, 2018 (43 jurisdictions as of late 2026, per NurseCompact), so a multistate license covers the whole state — and Charlotte sits just over the North Carolina line, letting compact travelers work both Carolinas from one assignment base. Compare South Carolina against the neighbors on the travel nurse pay by state hub.
The map: Charleston anchors the coast with its large academic medical center and the state's strongest specialty pull. Greenville–Spartanburg anchors the Upstate with two competing systems and steady volume, and Columbia's systems sit between them. Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand run sharp seasonal cycles — winter snowbird volumes and summer tourism both stress staffing — and rural Pee Dee and Lowcountry hospitals post some of the state's best premiums precisely because fewer travelers want them. Note the housing asymmetry: coastal rents have grown faster than almost anywhere in the country, while Upstate rents stay moderate, and that difference lands directly in what a stipend actually buys.
How stipends change the math in South Carolina
A South Carolina offer splits into taxable wages and tax-free stipends, and where you land in the state decides how far the stipend stretches. Housing and meal stipends stay untaxed only while you maintain a valid tax home with duplicated living expenses, and they are capped by the GSA per diem tables for your assignment city. The friction is that Charleston-area rents have outrun those tables' slow annual adjustments, so the lawful stipend ceiling can lag what a decent apartment actually costs — a hidden pay cut travelers discover after signing. Decide early whether to take the stipend or agency housing; on the coast, agency housing or a roommate setup frequently wins.
Illustrative contract, Charleston: $20 an hour taxable times 36 guaranteed hours is $720 of weekly taxable gross. Federal income tax runs about $47 a week for a single filer after the standard deduction, FICA about $55, and South Carolina income tax roughly $25 after the state's bracket math — call it $593 net from the taxable side. Add $1,250 housing plus $400 meals and incidentals, untaxed with a valid tax home, and weekly take-home is about $2,240, a blended rate near $62 an hour. A 13-week contract lands near $29,200. Run your own offer through the take-home pay calculator — this is an estimate, not tax advice.
The comparison that matters: South Carolina's 5.21% top rate on income above $30,000 is real but narrow — after the state's bracket math, the weekly difference versus no-tax states is tens of dollars, while the Upstate's low rents can hand back more than that through the stipend side. The genuine South Carolina variable is coastal housing: a Charleston offer and a Greenville offer at identical gross can differ materially in net once real rents are priced. Score any two offers with the contract comparison calculator or the blended rate calculator, and if this is your first contract, walk the first assignment checklist before you sign anything.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in South Carolina?
South Carolina staff RNs earn a median of $82,360 a year ($39.60 an hour) per BLS OEWS May 2025 data, about 16% below the $97,550 national median. Travel packages typically run roughly $1,600–$2,400 a week gross depending on city and specialty, with Charleston and Greenville–Spartanburg on the higher end.
How much is South Carolina income tax for travel nurses?
For 2026 South Carolina collapsed to two brackets — 1.99% on taxable income under $30,000 and 5.21% above it, down from a 6.2% top rate, per the SC Department of Revenue. On typical travel wages expect roughly $20–$35 a week after the state's bracket math.
Is South Carolina part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes. South Carolina has been a Nurse Licensure Compact member since January 19, 2018, so a multistate RN license issued by your compact home state covers South Carolina assignments. The compact counted 43 jurisdictions as of late 2026 — confirm at nursecompact.com.
Where are the biggest travel nurse markets in South Carolina?
Charleston anchors the coast with its large academic medical center and booming population, Greenville–Spartanburg anchors the Upstate with two competing systems, and Columbia sits between them. Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand add sharp seasonal swings, and rural Pee Dee and Lowcountry hospitals post real premiums.
Are stipends tax-free in South Carolina?
Federal rules decide, not Columbia: housing and meal stipends are tax-free only while you maintain a valid tax home and duplicated living expenses, capped by GSA per diem rates for the assignment city. South Carolina's income tax applies to your taxable wages only; it does not change how stipends are treated.
Does South Carolina's coastal housing boom hurt travel stipends?
It squeezes them. Charleston and the Grand Strand have seen some of the fastest rent growth in the country, while GSA per diem tables adjust slowly — so the lawful stipend ceiling can lag actual housing costs. Travelers take agency housing or roommates more often on the coast than in Greenville or Columbia; price real listings before signing.