Census ACS 5-year estimates · 2026

South Carolina Income Statistics for 2026

The average income for households in South Carolina is $95,567, which is 16% lower than the US average.

The median income for households in South Carolina is $69,324, which is 14% lower than the US median.

South Carolina has a population-weighted median household income of $71,633 and mean household income of $95,188 across 419 ZIP codes — 18.2% lower than the US average for median income.

Median household income (ZIP-weighted)

$71,633

US ZIP-weighted median: $87,610 · 18.2% lower than the US average

Mean household income (ZIP-weighted)

$95,188

US ZIP-weighted mean: $113,774 · 16.3% lower than the US average

Per capita income

$39,240

US per capita: $44,688 · 12.2% lower than the US average

Population & households

Population
5,242,008
Households
2,097,778
ZIP codes
419

By age of householder

Median household income by age in South Carolina

Census ACS table B19049 · 2024 5-year estimates

Under 25
$40,541-11% vs US

Gray bar = US median ($45,332)

25 to 44
$77,560-15% vs US

Gray bar = US median ($90,756)

45 to 64Peak
$81,554-17% vs US

Gray bar = US median ($97,843)

65 and over
$53,541-8% vs US

Gray bar = US median ($58,390)

In South Carolina, younger households (householder under 25) report a median income of $40,541. Income peaks for householders aged 45 to 64, at $81,554. Among householders 65 and over, the median falls to $53,541 — a common pattern as people transition from career earnings to retirement income.

Income distribution

How South Carolina households are spread across income levels

Census ACS table B19001 · 2,117,989 households · 2024 5-year estimates

Less than $10,000
124,0116%
$10,000 to $14,999
80,4154%
$15,000 to $19,999
75,4084%
$20,000 to $24,999
80,2264%
$25,000 to $29,999
81,2094%
$30,000 to $34,999
81,7774%
$35,000 to $39,999
84,7024%
$40,000 to $44,999
85,1884%
$45,000 to $49,999
82,9994%
$50,000 to $59,999
153,3857%
$60,000 to $74,999
207,03210%
$75,000 to $99,999Largest
276,82313%
$100,000 to $124,999
206,16410%
$125,000 to $149,999
142,1407%
$150,000 to $199,999
168,4438%
$200,000 or more
188,0679%

Under $50k

37%

$50k–$99k

30%

$100k–$149k

16%

$150k+

17%

South Carolina has 2,117,989 households spread across 16 income brackets. The largest share (13%) falls in the $75,000 to $99,999 range. Roughly 33% of households earn $100,000 or more per year. About 37% earn less than $50,000.

Richest South Carolina ZIP codes

Richest ZIP codes are ranked by mean household income among ZCTAs with at least 500 residents. Census suppresses exact medians above $250,000; mean income avoids ties.

RankZIPCountyPopulationMean incomeMedian income
129482Charleston County2,087$298,004$192,813
229451Charleston County4,362$269,949$156,979
329685Pickens County1,964$206,742$116,742
429401Charleston County9,339$200,754$99,667
529466Charleston County44,942$185,408$133,357
629439Charleston County1,125$180,800$137,396
729455Charleston County27,576$178,217$121,372
829492Berkeley County20,436$175,729$110,509
929915Beaufort County619$172,115$156,090
1029928Beaufort County15,785$169,737$97,576

All South Carolina ZIP codes

419 ZIP codes grouped by county. Each code opens its income page.

Abbeville County5

Allendale County4

Bamberg County4

Barnwell County4

Calhoun County2

Cherokee County3

Clarendon County5

Edgefield County5

Fairfield County4

Georgetown County3

Lancaster County4

Lee County3

Marion County4

Saluda County2

Hero statistics use official Census ACS state totals (tables B19013 and S1902). Figures in this section are population-weighted aggregates of ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) estimates for browsing individual ZIP codes. Page URL: https://resource.skyrocketbpo.com/tools/market-research/us-income-demographics-by-zip-code/south-carolina

Link to this page

Permanent URL backed by Census ACS data in PocketBase.

Context & methodology

Using South Carolina income data for market research

Household income in South Carolina is a core input for market sizing, franchise territory analysis, and local business plans. This page aggregates 419 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) using the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-year estimates — the same vintage used in official state tables B19013 (median income) and B19001 (income distribution).

South Carolina's population-weighted median household income is $71,633, 18.2% below the US ZIP-weighted median. Mean household income of $95,188 is typically higher than the median when affluent households pull up the average — a signal worth checking before assuming a market is uniformly wealthy.

In South Carolina, younger households (householder under 25) report a median income of $40,541. Income peaks for householders aged 45 to 64, at $81,554. Among householders 65 and over, the median falls to $53,541 — a common pattern as people transition from career earnings to retirement income.

South Carolina has 2,117,989 households spread across 16 income brackets. The largest share (13%) falls in the $75,000 to $99,999 range. Roughly 33% of households earn $100,000 or more per year. About 37% earn less than $50,000.

ACS 5-year estimates combine five years of survey responses, improving reliability for smaller geographies at the cost of timeliness. For high-stakes decisions — site selection, loan underwriting, or investor decks — cross-check these figures with the primary Census tables linked below and note that the Census top-codes median household income at $250,001, so ZIP codes at that ceiling are genuinely in the highest reported bracket.

Data vintage: Census ACS 2024 5-year estimates (published 2026). Tables: B19013 (median HH income), B19001 (distribution), B19049 (income by age of householder).

Authoritative sources & further reading

Primary government data and reference pages for verifying and extending this analysis.

Related market research tools

Combine ZIP-level income with these free Resource tools for fuller market pictures.

Nearby states

All states