South Carolina Clinical Psychologist Salary Outlook
Nearly 20% of American adults is dealing with a mental illness, including issues like PTSD, bipolar or anxiety disorder. But few people who have mental illnesses or are dealing with other problematic behavioral or emotional issues actually seek help. In fact, only about 15% of adults in any given year seek treatment or other mental health services, which is helping deepen the mental health crisis in the U.S.
Statistically, South Carolina is quite representative of the nation when it comes to the prevalence both of mental illness and the rate at which people seek mental health services, with the state being less than a percentage point away from the overall U.S. rate in both cases. What this means is that many people in our state are suffering needlessly from mental, emotional and behavioral disturbances.
SEE ALSO: Steps to Becoming a Clinical Psychologist
Tackling the mental health crisis throughout the U.S. will mean giving more people access to regular care, and there’s a specific occupation that can have a big impact — clinical psychologists. These individuals are qualified to diagnose and treat mental and behavioral disorders and can help people deal with their problems so they can lead better lives.
What can such professionals expect to earn here in South Carolina, and how does our state compare to others?
What’s On This Page
- How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in South Carolina?
- Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in South Carolina?
- Which South Carolina Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
How Much Do Clinical Psychologists Make in South Carolina?
The typical clinical psychologist in the U.S. earns $96,100 annually. Most Southern states have salaries lower than this, including South Carolina, where the median salary for clinical psychologists is $59,580.
Median annual clinical psychologist wage, Southern states
| Maryland | $102,680 |
| Kentucky | $95,130 |
| Alabama | $94,740 |
| Tennessee | $89,980 |
| Virginia | $89,520 |
| Georgia | $79,410 |
| Florida | $78,730 |
| North Carolina | $78,630 |
| Oklahoma | $76,190 |
| Texas | $75,140 |
| Arkansas | $65,440 |
| West Virginia | $65,350 |
| South Carolina | $59,580 |
While South Carolina’s median wage for clinical psychologists is among the lowest in its region, it’s still over $15k higher than the state’s general median wage for all workers of $42,224.
Median – Top 10% South Carolina wage for clinical psychologists
| Average | $64,990 |
| Median | $59,580 |
| 75th percentile | $91,440 |
| Top 10th percentile | $129,210 |
While today’s median wage for clinical psychologists in South Carolina may not be incredibly high, the state does have a healthy outlook when it comes to job growth, which could help push salaries up over the next decade.
Southern states by projected long-term and short-term clinical psychologist job growth
| State | Long-term | Short-term |
| Florida | 26.1% | 11.8% |
| Tennessee | 23.4% | 0.0% |
| South Carolina | 22.8% | 5.1% |
| Texas | 19.6% | 6.1% |
| North Carolina | 18.9% | 4.5% |
| Mississippi | 16.0% | 0.0% |
| Oklahoma | 14.6% | 3.8% |
| Arkansas | 13.2% | 5.4% |
| Maryland | 12.6% | 4.4% |
| West Virginia | 12.2% | 1.4% |
| Virginia | 11.6% | 3.4% |
| Alabama | 11.4% | 2.2% |
| Kentucky | 11.1% | 3.6% |
| Louisiana | 10.8% | 2.6% |
| Georgia | 10.5% | 4.6% |
| Delaware | 8.3% | 0.0% |
| District of Columbia | 7.1% | 0.0% |
Note: Short-term, year over year; long-term, 2022-2032
Which South Carolina Cities Are Best for Clinical Psychologists?
As one might assume, some South Carolina cities and metro areas offer median salaries that are higher than the state as a whole, with Charleston, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach all boasting salaries over the state’s median wage for clinical psychologists.
South Carolina cities by median annual clinical psychologist wage
| Charleston | $94,310 |
| Greenville | $91,430 |
| Myrtle Beach | $80,040 |
Cities across South Carolina vary widely when it comes to how prevalent clinical psychologist jobs are, ranging from the high concentration in Columbia to a much lower concentration in Charleston.
South Carolina cities by clinical psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs
| Columbia | 0.967 |
| Greenville | 0.291 |
| Myrtle Beach | 0.214 |
| Charleston | 0.145 |
May 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and labor market information for Psychologists is based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed January 2025.
Who’s Hiring for Clinical Psychologists in South Carolina?
Many clinical psychologists will seek to open their own private practices, where they can take on their own clients. This allows them to specialize in particular areas or work solely with certain demographics. But for those who prefer a more traditional employment arrangement, these specializations are widely available across a range of industries, from the military and law enforcement to healthcare settings.
Here’s a look at some of the jobs for clinical psychologists that were posted in fall 2019 in South Carolina:
- Magnolia Psychological Services
- LifeSource
- Skycare Services
- State of South Carolina
- Midlands Neurology & Pain Associates
- University of South Carolina
- Greenville Health System
- S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Platinum Business Corp.
- JusticeWorks
- Synergy Psych
- Aliron International
- S. Air Force
- Wellpath
- The Citadel
- Furman University
- Aiken County Public Schools
Conclusion
It’s true that the typical wage for a clinical psychologist in South Carolina isn’t among the highest in the nation or even in the South, the wide range of job openings and the robust growth rates projected for these jobs over the coming years should keep South Carolina top of mind for many new graduates in the field.
SEE ALSO: Best South Carolina Psychology Doctorate Programs
Additional References
- Information on clinical psychologist job openings in South Carolina was gathered from listings posted in November 2019 on Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System. (2019). Accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Psychologists. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm#tab-5
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2016-2017 NSDUH State Prevalence Estimates. (Undated). Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2016-2017-nsduh-state-prevalence-estimates
- Projections Managing Partnership, Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections. (Undated). Accessed from https://projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm