Registered Nurse Salary in Tega Cay, SC: $79,340 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Tega Cay, SC earns a median $79,340/year (≈ $38.14/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Tega Cay's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $86,710 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.7% below the South Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With a median annual salary of $79,340 for registered nurses in Tega Cay, South Carolina, local earnings are notably lower than the national average of $102,730. The salary range spans from $60,746 at the 10th percentile to $104,138 at the 90th percentile, highlighting significant income variability based on experience, certification, and specialty practice areas. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, and they reflect the current local economic conditions, including the cost of living adjustments in the Tega Cay area. Given the competitive nature of healthcare in the region, especially for specialty certifications such as CCRN or CEN, nurses can enhance their market positioning and earning potential through professional development and certification.
About the Tega Cay Market
Salary estimated from South Carolina average ($76,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,746 | $29.20 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $67,634 | $32.52 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,340 | $38.14 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $88,515 | $42.56 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $104,138 | $50.06 |
Median Salary Position
22.77% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Tega Cay
In Tega Cay, SC, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $43,392 (2026 est.). At $79,340, the local median is 22.77% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Tega Cay: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Tega Cay Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Tega Cay median: $79,340/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Tega Cay Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $85,958 | -7.70% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -22.77% less |
Registered Nurses in Tega Cay, SC earn a median of $79,340 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.77% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 7.70% below the South Carolina state average of $85,958.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Tega Cay has a cost of living 8.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Tega Cay, SC has a cost-of-living index of 91.5 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $79,340 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $86,710 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.29% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$56,610
2025 BLS Actual
$75,339
2026 Current Est.
$79,340
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Tega Cay (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,610 | Actual |
| 2020 | $58,178 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,931 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,727 | Actual |
| 2023 | $66,473 | Actual |
| 2024 | $64,157 | Actual |
| 2025 | $75,339 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,340 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $83,552 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Tega Cay metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $56,610 (2019) to $75,339 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $83,552 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,942 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tega Cay metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $60,746 – $67,634 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $67,634 – $79,340 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,340 – $88,515 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $88,515 – $104,138 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Tega Cay
In Tega Cay, the job market for registered nurses includes approximately four employed in the area, pointing to a relatively small yet important healthcare workforce. The cost of living index of 91.5 warrants attention, as it suggests that while salaries might seem lower than national standards, nurses may enjoy a favorable purchasing power locally. Among potential employers, acute care hospital systems generally offer the most competitive registered nurse pay in Tega Cay SC, particularly for roles in critical units like the ICU or Emergency Department. Variations in pay can also stem from shift differentials for nights and weekends, which typically add between $3 to $7 per hour. To maximize earnings in this market, registered nurses should consider pursuing specialty certifications, looking into travel nursing opportunities, and seeking employment in environments that prioritize magnet status, thus enhancing both their career development and financial rewards.
More salary data for Tega Cay, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Tega Cay, SC in 2026?
Is Tega Cay, SC a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Can registered nurses make $100K in Tega Cay?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted registered nurse salary in Tega Cay?
How much does a registered nurse make per hour in Tega Cay?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in South Carolina
Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $75,339 for registered nursesin the Tega Cay metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Tega Cay is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov