South Carolina is a wonderful state to go to college in, but it is also a great state to retire in. Many areas of the state have a large senior population, creating a high demand for health care jobs here. The average employee in South Carolina earns $38,700 a year, but those in urban areas like Charleston often earn much more. Historically, South Carolina was the first state to declare independence during the American Revolution, and it was the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.