Sources: South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources, South Carolina Classified Pay Structure and State Job Classifications; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
South Carolina state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first. These are the ranges South Carolina sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Attorney I Class AE10 · class description Grade GEN10 | $58,854 – $105,978 a year |
| Attorney II Class AE20 · class description Grade GEN11 | $67,728 – $121,890 a year |
| Attorney III Class AE30 · class description Grade GEN12 | $81,192 – $146,166 a year |
| Attorney IV Class AE40 · class description Grade GEN13 | $94,146 – $178,908 a year |
| Attorney V Class AE50 · class description Grade GEN14 | $113,016 – $214,710 a year |
| Attorney VI Class AE60 · class description Grade GEN15 | $135,558 – $257,550 a year |
Schedule: General Pay Structure (GEN). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources, South Carolina Classified Pay Structure and State Job Classifications. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in South Carolina, all employers Sourced
Lawyers (SOC 23-1011) in South Carolina, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | SC |
|---|---|
| Workers | 7,890 |
| 10th percentile | $63,140 |
| Median | $120,310 |
| 90th percentile | $301,140 |
| National median, government employers | $134,680 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for South Carolina
South Carolina Bar ExaminationSouth Carolina version · free on Open Exam Prep- Multistate Bar ExaminationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Essay ExaminationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Performance TestEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Professional Responsibility ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NextGen Bar ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Uniform Bar ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Government Attorney (agency counsel) page.