How Much Does a High School Teacher Make in South Carolina in 2024?

High school teachers are critical in shaping students’ higher education and career choices. It’s an intellectually stimulating age group to teach, as the learners are mature enough to think deeply about topics and participate in reasoned debates. Amidst South Carolina’s record-breaking teaching shortage, the state needs people like you to join this valuable vocation.

The average high school teacher salary in South Carolina as of May 2022 was $55,680. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.

In this guide, Teachers of Tomorrow will provide the salary ranges for high school educators in South Carolina. We’ll also outline the pathways to teaching this age group, including alternative teacher certification options.

Happy teacher in class

What Is a High School Teacher?

High school teachers educate students between ninth and twelfth grade. Teachers instruct on their fields of expertise, such as English, life sciences, or history. Their lessons must meet the standards set by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) and the US Department of Education.

High school teachers are responsible for many students. Rather than a single classroom of twenty to thirty learners, a high school educator may see hundreds throughout the week. It creates an energizing dynamic, as keen minds brim with ideas and opinions. But it also means a high school teacher has to be extremely organized to keep track of the many faces.

High school can also be a stressful and anxious time for teenagers as they prepare for their futures. Their teachers must help guide them in making choices that will benefit their goals in further education and careers. This includes providing lessons, material, and assistance while preparing for state assessments and college entrance exams.

Excellent high school teachers come in a variety of personalities and educational styles. However, while there is no one way to teach, successful high school educators do share some skills and traits.

Critical thinking: High schoolers enjoy thrashing out topics, questioning why we do things the way we do, challenging authority, and debating ideas. Teachers for this age group must enjoy being challenged and thinking critically about various areas and lessons in ways they might not have done before.
Creativity: Teachers need to prepare students to take various standardized tests and exams. However, it requires creativity to ensure students are engaged in the lessons and are educated beyond being “taught how to pass a test.” Creative teachers produce imaginative and inventive students who can problem solve without being spoon-fed the answer.
Compassion: It can be tempting to laugh or dismiss teenage angst and woes as adults. But these students are under a lot of pressure, including feeling obliged to meet expectations set on them by their parents, community, church, and coaches. Meanwhile, they are also trying to realize their own dreams and goals. Lastly, some teenagers have had large adult responsibilities dropped on their shoulders and are struggling to meet those demands on top of school.

An excellent high school teacher has compassion for anxiety and stress their students are experiencing, no matter how big or small, and will help guide and support where appropriate.

High school teachers take on numerous responsibilities. Their role includes being required to:

Preparing students to be independent thinkers and responsible citizens.
Preparing students for assessments, test, and exams that will dictate their students’ future options.
Create a safe, engaging, and conducive learning environment where students respect one another and their instructor.

How Much Do High School Teachers Make in South Carolina?

The average annual salaries for high school teachers in South Carolina as of May 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Highest salary – $75,200
Average salary – $55,680
Lowest salary – $39,040

The salaries of South Carolina’s high school teachers are impacted by the school district’s location, a teacher’s level of education, years of experience, the subject(s) they are licensed to teach, and any other special skills or qualifications.

percentage wages south Carolina

How To Become a High School Teacher in South Carolina

Certification of high school teachers varies across the United States. The SCDE oversees South Carolina’s educator pathways. Candidates using the traditional route to teaching high school will need to complete the following steps:

Obtain a bachelor’s degree. All US states require a bachelor’s degree to become a certified, full-time teacher. The traditional pathway for high school teachers involves selecting a degree centered around education and the field(s) they wish to teach, such as mathematics, Spanish, physics, or geography.
Complete a teacher preparation program: Many universities offer a teacher preparation program as part of the degree.
Gain Field Experience and Student Teaching Hours: South Carolina provides a one-year Internship Certificate to allow candidates to gain student teaching experience. To qualify, the candidate must undergo field experience and submit fingerprints for a background check. It will be performed by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Pass the SCBE required exams: High school teachers must pass the relevant Praxis exams. Please note that subject-specific tests are required to be licensed in high school field.
Apply for certification: The SCDE has two main certification options for those on the traditional pathway. The most common is the Initial Educator Certificate, valid for three years.

However, in August 2022, a Provisional Initial Certificate was introduced to help ease the teaching shortage. It is for traditional candidates who have completed all their requirements except achieving a passing score on one or more required exams. It will only be issued at the request of a school district in need and comes with restrictions.

Both certification options require a background check, typically separate from the one done during student teaching.

Alternative Route to Certification for High School Teachers

Candidates have options beyond the traditional pathway to becoming a high school teacher. Alternative routes allow an individual with a four-year bachelor’s degree to gain certification without being required to obtain a second degree. These programs provide classroom readiness training and other, valuable, educational tools and instruction.

South Carolina’s approved alternative route providers differ in cost, time frames, and certification and degree offerings. Thus, the steps required to complete an alternative route program depend on the provider. The following example is from the AAQEP-accredited South Carolina Teachers of Tomorrow program:

Apply. Be sure you have a four-year bachelor’s degree and a 2.5 GPA
Pre-Classroom Training: A self-paced process that takes 4-6 weeks. It involves:
Online coursework.
Online and in-classroom observation.
Passing the relevant Praxis Core Exams. (See The Learning Liaisons for exam prep resources.)
Apply to the SCDE for a Statement of Eligibility. The paperwork assures potential employers that the candidate has completed the necessary steps to be eligible for teaching employment.
Apply for a teaching position. Always take time to prepare for the interview.
Pass a background check. Candidates cannot apply for any type of certification without passing a background check. Fingerprints will be sent to the SLED and FBI.
Apply for an Alternative Route Teaching Certificate. The alternative certificate is valid for one year and can be renewed three times.
Complete Internship Year: Candidates will teach for pay while being provided support by an on-campus mentor and Field Supervisor. Candidates will be required to complete case studies and fieldwork in classroom management.
Teach for three years: Once candidates have completed three years of full-time teaching and met all necessary requirements, they can apply for a Professional Teaching License, valid for five years and renewable.

What is the Highest and Lowest Paying High School Teaching Job?

Certified South Carolina High school teachers can choose to work for various types of schools. However, they don’t all pay the same.

Public schools: South Carolina public schools generally pay the highest salaries and offer the best benefit packages, especially in terms of retirement benefits.
Charter schools: South Carolina charter schools pay their high school teachers much better than their elementary school educators. However, the salary ranges are still better at a public school.
International schools: International schools often pay their high school teachers much more than their elementary school educators. However, teachers with long careers generally find better pay at a public school.
Online teaching: High school virtual teaching is often low-paying with flexible hours. But there are some exceptions where higher than average salaries are offered.
Private schools: Private school salaries for high school teachers can be pretty low. However, some exclusive and prestigious private schools offer attractive high school teaching salaries.

high school salary south Carolina

Ready to begin inspiring the next generation? Teachers of Tomorrow is happy to help. Start your journey towards getting your teaching license in South Carolina today.