S.C. Code Ann. § 5-13-50: Employment and qualifications of manager.

The council shall employ a manager and fix his compensation. The manager shall be employed solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications. He need not be a resident of the municipality or state at the time of his employment and may reside outside the municipality while in office only with the approval of the council.

No councilman or mayor shall be employed as manager of the municipality from which he was elected during the term for which he shall have been elected.