Early Childhood Education Jobs in South Carolina
Outstanding access to early learning programs and steadily increasing numbers of students throughout the state’s preschool system are just a few of the reasons why it’s great to be an early childhood education professional in South Carolina.
A 2018 report published by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) revealed that South Carolina exceeds the national average when it comes to student access to preschool. During the 2017-18 school year, about 28,000 students were enrolled in preschool programs – that’s an increase of about 3,500 students from the year before.
You’re sure to feel right at home in the early childhood education field in South Carolina, where job opportunities abound, salaries are competitive, and access to preschool programs for the state’s youngest learners is strong.
South Carolina Salary Rankings
in the US for Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School
in the US for Special Education Teachers, Preschool
in the US for Childcare Workers
in the US for Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare
in the US for Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
Early Childhood Jobs in South Carolina
From preschool teachers and childcare workers to preschool administrators and social workers, professionals of all stripes working in South Carolina’s early childhood education system stand out in the South, thanks to competitive salaries that often exceed what these professionals earn in neighboring states. For example, kindergarten teachers earn an average salary of $46,490 in North Carolina, but in South Carolina, it’s $52,540 – or about $6,000 more annually! And in some of the Palmetto State’s metropolitan regions, average salaries in early childhood education climb even higher, often surpassing the national average.
| Occupation | Total Employed | Median Annual Salary | % of US Median | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare Workers | 6,700 | $21,030 |  85% |
|
| Child, Family, and School Social Workers | 3,320 | $38,930 | 72% |
|
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | 5,940 | $28,940 | 84% |
|
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | 2,120 | $52,540 | 90% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | 3,040 | $56,960 | 90% |
|
| Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare | 540 | $46,390 | 76% |
|
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | 160 | $48,110 | 78% |
|
= Salary below nat’l. avg.  = Salary above nat’l. avg. |
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Childcare Workers – There are 6,700 childcare workers employed in South Carolina earning an average salary of $21,030. Jobs among South Carolina’s childcare workers are expected to increase by 6.4% through 2026.
Child, Family, and School Social Workers – South Carolina’s 3,320 child, family, and school social workers earn an average of $38,930. The future looks bright for professionals in this field, thanks to a 16% projected job growth rate through 2026. The number of child, family, and school social worker jobs in South Carolina is projected to increase by 14.1% through 2026.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – There are 2,120 kindergarten teachers employed in South Carolina, and they earn an average salary of $52,540. Jobs for kindergarten teachers are projected to increase by 9.7% through 2026, which is higher than the national projected growth rate of 7%.
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – South Carolina’s 5,940 preschool teachers earn an average salary of $28,940. There are nearly three times as many preschool teachers as kindergarten teachers working here. The number of preschool teacher jobs in South Carolina is expected to increase by 11.6% through 2026 – higher than the national growth rate of 10% for this occupation during the same period.
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – There are 3,040 kindergarten and elementary school special education teachers in South Carolina, and these professionals earn an average salary of $56,960. Jobs for special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary school settings in South Carolina are projected to increase by 9% through 2026, which is slightly higher than the national projected growth rate of 8%.
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – There are 540 education administrators in preschool and childcare settings working in South Carolina. These professionals earn, on average, $46,390. Education administrator jobs in preschool and childcare are projected to increase by 12.7% through 2026 – that’s higher than the national projected growth rate of 11% for this profession.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool – South Carolina’s 160 special education teachers in preschool settings earn an average salary of $48,110. Employment among South Carolina’s special education teachers in preschool settings should increase by 10% through 2026, which is higher than the national projected growth rate of 8% for these early childhood education professionals.
City-Level Job Stats
The stars of the show among South Carolina’s early childhood educators in terms of average salary are Charleston’s education administrators, who are ranked eighth in the nation, and Florence’s preschool teachers, who are ranked sixth in the nation.
Average salaries in South Carolina can be quite different from one region to the next. For example, kindergarten teachers in the Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway metro region earn an average salary of $70,230, which is $27,000 more than the average salary for kindergarten teachers in Florence.
Kindergarten Teachers
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC – 840 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,440
- Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville – 230 licensed teachers with an average salary of $47,960
- Columbia – 360 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,120
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC – 270 licensed teachers with an average salary of $63,920
- Greenville-Mauldin-Easley – 410 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,690
- Spartanburg – 100 licensed teachers with an average salary of $60,630
- Florence – 110 licensed teachers with an average salary of $43,150
- Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway – 130 licensed teachers with an average salary of $70,230
- Sumter –average salary of $49,940
Preschool Teachers
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC – 4,340 licensed teachers with an average salary of $27,010
- Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville – 810 licensed teachers with an average salary of $27,530
- Columbia – 890 licensed teachers with an average salary of $30,160
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC – 500 licensed teachers with an average salary of $28,580
- Greenville-Mauldin-Easley – 1,300 licensed teachers with an average salary of $22,920
- Spartanburg – 520 licensed teachers with an average salary of $24,850
- Florence – 280 licensed teachers with an average salary of $45,870
- Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway – 480 licensed teachers with an average salary of $34,680
Kindergarten Teachers
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC – 840 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,440
- Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville – 230 licensed teachers with an average salary of $47,960
- Columbia – 360 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,120
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC – 270 licensed teachers with an average salary of $63,920
- Greenville-Mauldin-Easley – 410 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,690
- Spartanburg – 100 licensed teachers with an average salary of $60,630
- Florence – 110 licensed teachers with an average salary of $43,150
- Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway – 130 licensed teachers with an average salary of $70,230
- Sumter –average salary of $49,940
Special Education Teachers – Preschool
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC – 90 licensed teachers with an average salary of $50,430
- Columbia – 70 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,010
Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC – 1,700 licensed teachers with an average salary of $49,860
- Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville – 350 licensed teachers with an average salary of $48,150
- Columbia – 440 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,120
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC –average salary of $66,870
- Greenville-Mauldin-Easley – 420 licensed teachers with an average salary of $49,790
- Spartanburg – 120 licensed teachers with an average salary of $59,850
- Florence – 180 licensed teachers with an average salary of $44,000
- Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway – 1,000 licensed teachers with an average salary of $68,590
Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC – 300 licensed teachers with an average salary of $46,910
- Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville – 60 licensed teachers with an average salary of $64,040
- Columbia – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $59,040
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $44,360
- Greenville-Mauldin-Easley – 140 licensed teachers with an average salary of $35,370
- Spartanburg – 50 licensed teachers with an average salary of $45,600
- Florence – 30 licensed teachers with an average salary of $53,010
- Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway – 30 licensed teachers with an average salary of $51,800
2018 Occupational Employment Statistics sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [salary data accessed April 2019] https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_sc.htm#25-0000
BLS salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.