Financial Analyst · South Carolina · SOC 13-2051
2026 Financial Analyst Pay in South Carolina: BLS Median + Real Take-Home
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2024 reference period · BEA Regional Price Parity 2023 vintage · Last synced 2026-05-05.
TL;DR
- $89,850 is the BLS median wage for Financial Analysts in South Carolina; $96,120 is the BEA-adjusted purchasing-power equivalent.
- After the cost-of-living adjustment, take-home rises by $6,270 versus the BLS median — purchasing-power arbitrage.
- Bottom quartile $73,130, top quartile $128,370. The P90 ($160,660) is roughly 2.8× the P10 ($56,460).
- State ranks #28 nationally on nominal wage, #23 on real (RPP-adjusted) wage.
Wage breakdown — South Carolina
| Percentile | Nominal (BLS) | Real (BEA RPP-adjusted) |
|---|---|---|
| P10 (entry tier) | $56,460 | $60,400 |
| P25 (lower quartile) | $73,130 | $78,233 |
| P50 (median) | $89,850 | $96,120 |
| P75 (upper quartile) | $128,370 | $137,328 |
| P90 (top tier) | $160,660 | $171,871 |
| Mean | $110,230 | $117,922 |
| Employment | 3,540 Financial Analysts in South Carolina | |
Cost of living — BEA Regional Price Parity
| Component | South Carolina index (US = 100) |
|---|---|
| All-items RPP | 93.5 |
| Goods | 95.9 |
| Services | 85.8 |
| Rents | 80.5 |
South Carolina sits below the national baseline (RPP 93.5), so nominal pay translates to a higher real wage than the BLS median suggests — particularly visible in rents at 80.5.
After-tax take-home — South Carolina (2024 BLS · 2024 tax year, single filer)
Layer-by-layer take-home math at the BLS median
| Layer | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gross BLS P50 (Financial Analyst) | $89,850 | nominal median |
| Federal income tax | −$11,014 | 12.3% effective; std deduction $15,750 applied |
| State income tax | −$4,007 | 0–6.2% (graduated) |
| FICA (SS 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%) | −$6,874 | SS capped at $183,600 wage base |
| Take-home (after-tax) | $67,955 | 75.6% of gross |
| Real take-home (RPP-adjusted) | $72,697 | ÷ (93.5 / 100) BEA cost-of-living |
What the South Carolina state-tax burden means for Financial Analyst take-home
Mid-band state-tax burden at 4.5% effective. Combined with federal and FICA, take-home is $67,955 (75.6% of gross). After the 93.5 RPP, real take-home is $72,697.
Computed from 2026 IRS federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32), 2026 state DOR brackets, and 2026 FICA rates. Single filer, standard deduction, no other adjustments. See methodology · tax for limitations (married filers, ITM/SALT itemizers, retirement deferrals, HSA, dependent credits, etc.).
National context
Across the United States, BLS reports a national median of $101,350 for Financial Analysts with mean pay of $116,490 and total employment of 340,580. South Carolina sits at #28 on nominal pay and #23 on real (cost-adjusted) pay among the 51 states and DC. After cost adjustment, South Carolina climbs 5 positions — the cost of living is favorable relative to the wage.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the real (cost-adjusted) Financial Analyst salary in South Carolina?
- After BEA RPP adjustment (regional price parity index 93.5 for South Carolina), the real-wage equivalent is $96,120 — what the $89,850 nominal salary actually buys. Quartiles in real terms: $78,233 to $137,328.
- How are South Carolina Financial Analyst salaries calculated on this page?
- Nominal wages come from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) — annual employer surveys, May 2026 reference period. Real-wage figures use BEA Regional Price Parities (2023 vintage) to adjust for state-level cost of living. No self-report or jobs-board data is mixed in.
- What does the top of the Financial Analyst pay scale look like in South Carolina?
- The 90th percentile lands at $160,660. That tier typically reflects senior roles, specialty certifications, high-cost-of-living metros within the state, or union-negotiated rate cards. Below that, the P75 quartile is $128,370.
- How many Financial Analysts does South Carolina employ?
- BLS OES counts 3,540 Financial Analysts employed in South Carolina in the most recent release. Employment density relative to population determines whether wage tiers reflect a robust competitive market or a thinner labor pool.
- How wide is the wage spread in South Carolina?
- P10 to P90 spans $56,460 to $160,660. That spread captures entry-level to top-quartile pay, including specialty differentials and metro-area variance within the state.
- Is South Carolina a 'real-wage arbitrage' state for Financial Analysts?
- Yes — the BEA RPP of 93.5 is below the national 100 baseline, so nominal $89,850 stretches to a real-wage equivalent of $96,120. The take-home advantage versus a higher-RPP state is meaningful for Financial Analysts comparing offers across regions.
- What are the limits of these Financial Analyst salary numbers?
- BLS OES is an employer survey of W-2 wages — it excludes contractor pay, bonuses outside the base wage definition, equity compensation, and tip income. Self-employed practitioners and gig workers are not represented. For occupations with significant non-W-2 income, the BLS figure is a floor, not a complete picture.
Sources & methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES), SOC 13-2051, 2024 reference period.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities, 2023 vintage (all-items, goods, services, rents).
- Real-wage figures = nominal BLS wage ÷ (state RPP / 100).
- See the methodology page for full computation details and limitations.
Cross-comparison: see how South Carolina Financial Analyst pay ranks against the other 254 state × occupation pages on the Real Wage Atlas → — four-way ranking by real wage, after-tax take-home, state-tax savings, and cost-of-living arbitrage.