Online Human Services Degree in South Carolina: Salary, Schools & Outlook (2026)

Quick answer: South Carolina employs about 1,990 social and community service managers (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state human services or behavioral health agency. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.

Compare human services programs enrolling now:

Licensing and Credentials in South Carolina

Human services itself is unlicensed - that is the practical difference from social work. The credentials that stack on top are state-specific: peer support certification, behavioral technician registries, case management certifications and the substance use disorder counseling tiers, each with its own training-hour requirements.

Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state human services or behavioral health agency that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.

Earning the Degree While You Work

Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 10 schools within 101 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 10 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Greenville Technical College

Greenville, SC 97.7 miles away BOC Score 52.5
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 19.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 64
  • Annual completions: 1991
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,389 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Trident Technical College

Charleston, SC 91.9 miles away BOC Score 50.6
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 69
  • Annual completions: 1858
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $58,783 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Anderson University

Anderson, SC 101.2 miles away BOC Score 49.1
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 67.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 16
  • Annual completions: 146
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $55,541 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Piedmont Technical College

Greenwood, SC 66.6 miles away BOC Score 45.7
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 33.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 45
  • Annual completions: 1546
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $44,555 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Columbia International University

Columbia, SC 7.6 miles away BOC Score 44.9
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 55.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 4
  • Annual completions: 3
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $40,332 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#6

Lander University

Greenwood, SC 69.0 miles away BOC Score 43.9
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 49.3% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 7
  • Annual completions: 33
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,003 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Central Carolina Technical College

Sumter, SC 35.4 miles away BOC Score 43.9
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 32
  • Annual completions: 440
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $45,876 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Midlands Technical College

West Columbia, SC 8.1 miles away BOC Score 41.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 17.1% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 55
  • Annual completions: 1119
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $46,832 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Florence-Darlington Technical College

Florence, SC 69.1 miles away BOC Score 35.7
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 26.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 41
  • Annual completions: 889
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $44,978 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

Denmark Technical College

Denmark, SC 47.7 miles away BOC Score 16.3
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 13.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 21
  • Annual completions: 89
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $28,350 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

What Social and Community Service Managers Earn in South Carolina

Social and Community Service Managers in South Carolina earn a median $73,410 per year, below the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Human Services Pay and Employment in South Carolina at a Glance

MetricSouth CarolinaNationalSource
Median annual wage$73,410$80,390BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile$50,390$53,150BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile$59,700$64,290BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile$95,910$103,200BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile$126,270$132,260BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment1,990209,330BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient0.641.00BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)not published by state6.4%BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34

How South Carolina Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country

The South Carolina median of $73,410 sits below the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.

A location quotient of 0.64 puts South Carolina below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.

Where the Jobs Are in South Carolina

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Hilton Head Island$84,470100
Charleston$79,130290
Spartanburg$78,430130
Columbia$78,240430
Greenville$75,160340
Florence$68,96080
Myrtle Beach$63,92090
Sumter$61,99040

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Agency work exists where the agencies are: community mental health centers, county human services departments, aging services and residential programs all hire locally.

Social and Community Service Managers Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), social and community service managers wages in South Carolina vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia1,120$79,990$87,580$55,000$128,710
Columbia430$78,240$89,260$50,380$140,890
Greenville-Anderson-Greer340$75,160$82,540$50,830$125,330
Charleston-North Charleston290$79,130$88,030$58,560$132,300
Augusta-Richmond County190$76,020$84,030$54,080$124,940
Spartanburg130$78,430$83,940$51,780$120,650
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal100$84,470$92,640$59,290$134,070
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach90$63,920$75,350$47,680$116,490
Florence80$68,960$73,340$49,090$97,530
Sumter40$61,990$67,240$48,860$92,690

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

All South Carolina Metro Areas With Published Data

Charleston * Columbia * Greenville * Hilton Head Island * Spartanburg


Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do social and community service managers make in South Carolina?

The median annual wage for social and community service managers in South Carolina is $73,410, below the national median of $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $59,700 at the 25th percentile to $95,910 at the 75th.

How many social and community service managers work in South Carolina?

South Carolina holds about 1,990 human services professional jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 209,330, and BLS projects about 18,600 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).

Do I need a license to work as a human services professional in South Carolina?

Human services itself is unlicensed - that is the practical difference from social work. The credentials that stack on top are state-specific: peer support certification, behavioral technician registries, case management certifications and the substance use disorder counseling tiers, each with its own training-hour requirements. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state human services or behavioral health agency before you enroll in any program.

Can I earn a human services associate, bachelor's or master's online while working in South Carolina?

Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state human services or behavioral health agency.

What is the highest-paying area of South Carolina for social and community service managers?

Among South Carolina metro areas with published data, Hilton Head Island reports the highest median at $84,470 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Is South Carolina a good state for social and community service managers?

On pay, the state median of $73,410 sits below the national $80,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.64 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Social and Community Service Managers (SOC 11-9151), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.