Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary in South Carolina
In South Carolina, police and sheriff's patrol officers earn a median $58,070 a year, well below the national median of $76,210 (−24%); the state ranks 46th of 51 states by median. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers earn 25% more than the median across all occupations in South Carolina ($46,490). Every neighbouring state pays more: North Carolina and Georgia range from $58,120 in Georgia to $59,300 in North Carolina. South Carolina employs 12,930 police and sheriff's patrol officers, 5.61 per 1,000 jobs, the 17th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.30 means the occupation is more concentrated in South Carolina than nationally.
South Carolina vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $21.66 | $23.35 | $27.92 | $32.78 | $37.87 | $29.05 | 12,930 | 5.61 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $45,060 | $48,570 | $58,070 | $68,190 | $78,760 | $60,420 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $22.84 | $28.50 | $36.64 | $46.93 | $55.35 | $38.08 | 670,520 | – | – |
| Annual | $47,510 | $59,290 | $76,210 | $97,600 | $115,120 | $79,200 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 46th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 17th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.30
- Jobs per 1,000
- 5.61
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of South Carolina's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in South Carolina
10 metropolitan areas and 3 nonmetropolitan areas touching South Carolina publish a row for police and sheriff's patrol officers, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $30.38 | $63,190 | $49,850 | $94,430 | 5,770 | 4.25 | 0.99 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $29.84 | $62,070 | $51,440 | $77,670 | 910 | 6.25 | 1.45 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $29.12 | $60,570 | $49,300 | $75,920 | 2,320 | 5.89 | 1.37 |
| Columbia, SC | $28.49 | $59,260 | $46,650 | $98,840 | 2,840 | 7.21 | 1.67 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $28.48 | $59,240 | $48,080 | $81,000 | 540 | 6.54 | 1.52 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $28.07 | $58,390 | $43,920 | $75,680 | 1,120 | 4.85 | 1.12 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $27.78 | $57,780 | $46,850 | $75,260 | 1,910 | 4.40 | 1.02 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $27.42 | $57,030 | $46,360 | $75,080 | 720 | 4.37 | 1.01 |
| Sumter, SC | $26.41 | $54,940 | $44,640 | $72,280 | 210 | 6.11 | 1.42 |
| Florence, SC | $23.42 | $48,710 | $41,800 | $75,700 | 490 | 5.47 | 1.27 |
| Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $23.35 | $48,570 | $42,950 | $71,100 | 670 | 7.17 | 1.66 |
| Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $23.14 | $48,140 | $33,470 | $57,910 | 700 | 9.06 | 2.10 |
| Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $22.57 | $46,940 | $39,520 | $75,700 | 540 | 10.37 | 2.41 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $27.92 | $58,070 | 12,930 | 1.30 |
| Georgia | $27.94 | $58,120 | 22,170 | 1.05 |
| North Carolina | $28.51 | $59,300 | 22,370 | 1.05 |
See the national page for Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers (every state ranked) and the South Carolina wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS South Carolina estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.