Updated 2026-10-09 · 21 of 283 South Carolina agencies publish starting pay

Highest paying police departments in South Carolina

Police officer salary in South Carolina by department, ranked by the starting pay each one states in a current posting. Median starting pay is $54,662, about $26.28/hr or $4,555/mo, below the national median of $69,347. 21 of these departments are hiring right now.

Median starting pay

$54,662

▼ 21% vs national $69,347

Highest starting pay

$63,960

Myrtle Beach PD

Lowest on file

$32,011

Charleston County Sheriff

Median top-step pay

$63,333

20 departments publish a top step

Every South Carolina department by starting pay

Highest first

Starting pay is the lowest advertised full-time figure for a sworn officer in each department's current posting, annualized. Top pay and lateral start appear where the posting states them. Click a department for the quoted source line and verification date.
Department	Area	Starting pay	Top pay	Lateral start	Status
1. Myrtle Beach PD	Grand Strand	$63,960	$73,422	—	Hiring · 2
2. Lancaster County Sheriff	Charlotte Area	$62,461	$83,079	—	Hiring · 2
3. North Myrtle Beach PD	Grand Strand	$62,000	$82,000	—	Hiring · 1
4. Horry County PD	Grand Strand	$61,800	$61,800	—	Hiring · 2
5. Beaufort PD	Hilton Head Island Area	$61,000	$67,229	—	Hiring · 2
6. Charleston PD	Charleston Area	$58,115	$84,198	—	Hiring · 1
7. South Carolina Highway Patrol		$57,361	$80,622	—	Hiring · 2
8. Greenville PD	Greenville Area	$57,353	$89,418	—	Hiring · 2
9. Aiken PD	Augusta Area	$56,451	$56,451	—	Hiring · 2
10. Dorchester County Sheriff	Charleston Area	$55,940	$58,177	—	Hiring · 3
11. York County Sheriff	Charlotte Area	$54,662	—	—	Hiring · 2
12. Berkeley County Sheriff	Charleston Area	$53,553	$57,187	—	Hiring · 2
13. Lexington County Sheriff	Columbia Area	$51,294	$63,122	—	Hiring · 4
14. Bluffton PD	Hilton Head Island Area	$51,000	$64,147	—	Hiring · 4
15. Clemson PD	Greenville Area	$50,600	$55,660	—	Hiring · 1
16. Spartanburg PD	Spartanburg Area	$48,714	$48,714	—	Hiring · 1
17. Richland County Sheriff	Columbia Area	$46,093	$46,093	—	Hiring · 2
18. Clinton PD	Greenville Area	$45,000	$57,000	—	Hiring · 1
19. Columbia PD	Columbia Area	$45,000	$48,825	—	Hiring · 2
20. Orangeburg County Sheriff	Orangeburg Area	$41,683	$63,544	—	Hiring · 4
21. Charleston County Sheriff	Charleston Area	$32,011	$74,880	—	Hiring · 6

Starting pay by area in South Carolina

Area	Median starting pay	Departments with pay	Open jobs
Grand Strand	$62,000	3	6
Charleston Area	$54,746	4	12
Greenville Area	$50,600	3	4
Columbia Area	$46,093	3	8

Hiring bonuses in South Carolina

All South Carolina bonuses

Beaufort PDLaterals$5,000
Dorchester County SheriffNew officers$5,000

Police jobs in South Carolina (49)Lateral police jobs in South Carolina South Carolina departments that don't require college (15)All South Carolina departments Starting pay by state

Highest paying police departments in South Carolina

Every South Carolina department by starting pay

Starting pay by area in South Carolina

Hiring bonuses in South Carolina

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