Skilled Wages

Highest-paying and most in-demand trades in South Carolina

27 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states, the union scale and the state's own projection of which trades are growing.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Every trade in South Carolina, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60/hrConstruction manager: $51.98 (cost-of-living adjusted $55.47)Construction manager$51.98Elevator mechanic: $43.68 (cost-of-living adjusted $46.62)Elevator mechanic$43.68Lineman: $36.96 (cost-of-living adjusted $39.45)Lineman$36.96Construction supervisor: $36.23 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.67)Construction supervisor$36.23Boilermaker: $35.98 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.40)Boilermaker$35.98Crane operator: $30.83 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.90)Crane operator$30.83Millwright: $29.66 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.65)Millwright$29.66Diesel mechanic: $28.53 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.45)Diesel mechanic$28.53Electrician: $28.24 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.14)Electrician$28.24Machinist: $27.87 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.74)Machinist$27.87HVAC technician: $27.22 (cost-of-living adjusted $29.05)HVAC technician$27.22Plumber: $25.93 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.67)Plumber$25.93Ironworker: $24.40 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.04)Ironworker$24.40Carpenter: $24.36 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.00)Carpenter$24.36Glazier: $24.35 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.99)Glazier$24.35Solar installer: $24.27 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.90)Solar installer$24.27Welder: $24.03 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.65)Welder$24.03Sheet metal worker: $24.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.61)Sheet metal worker$24.00Cement mason: $23.73 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.33)Cement mason$23.73Brickmason: $23.56 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.14)Brickmason$23.56Heavy equipment operator: $23.53 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.11)Heavy equipment operator$23.53Insulation worker: $22.61 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.13)Insulation worker$22.61Roofer: $22.00 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.48)Roofer$22.00Drywall installer: $21.80 (cost-of-living adjusted $23.27)Drywall installer$21.80Tile setter: $20.92 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.33)Tile setter$20.92Construction laborer: $20.65 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.04)Construction laborer$20.65Painter: $19.64 (cost-of-living adjusted $20.96)Painter$19.64
Median hourly wage by trade in South Carolina, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Construction manager$51.98$108,110$92.315,62030th of 51-1.7%6% below
2Elevator mechanic$43.68$90,860$60.2254029th of 37+0.6%17% below
3Lineman$36.96$76,870$49.452,69045th of 51+6.2%19% below
4Construction supervisor$36.23$75,350$50.8913,15042nd of 51+3.0%6% below
5Boilermaker$35.98$74,840$37.02—25th of 37+7.2%2% below
6Crane operator$30.83$64,120$43.0072031st of 50-6.3%6% below
7Millwright$29.66$61,700$40.0395037th of 48+3.5%6% below
8Diesel mechanic$28.53$59,330$36.863,36037th of 51+14.5%4% below
9Electrician$28.24$58,740$37.418,01044th of 51+3.1%7% below
10Machinist$27.87$57,970$36.373,79031st of 51+10.6%1% below
11HVAC technician$27.22$56,610$36.316,92042nd of 51+6.3%7% below
12Plumber$25.93$53,940$36.445,77047th of 51-6.1%15% below
13Ironworker$24.40$50,750$32.0966044th of 50-10.6%19% below
14Carpenter$24.36$50,670$38.006,95039th of 51+2.0%16% below
15Glazier$24.35$50,650$32.9574031st of 50+2.0%11% below
16Solar installer$24.27$50,490$37.58—16th of 32—5% below
17Welder$24.03$49,980$31.017,38042nd of 51+0.3%7% below
18Sheet metal worker$24.00$49,920$36.681,71043rd of 50+4.6%19% below
19Cement mason$23.73$49,360$36.891,93039th of 51+12.5%13% below
20Brickmason$23.56$49,010$37.4841046th of 50+4.6%21% below
21Heavy equipment operator$23.53$48,940$30.938,16046th of 51+4.5%18% below
22Insulation worker$22.61$47,020$32.6273035th of 48—4% below
23Roofer$22.00$45,760$29.7485045th of 51+18.1%17% below
24Drywall installer$21.80$45,340$32.9834042nd of 49+7.8%23% below
25Tile setter$20.92$43,510$51.09—44th of 47-1.4%22% below
26Construction laborer$20.65$42,940$30.4719,62042nd of 51+14.0%9% below
27Painter$19.64$40,840$27.652,08050th of 51+0.4%17% below

Most in-demand trades in South Carolina

By the South Carolina labor market agency's 2024–2034 projections, the fastest-growing trades are solar installers (+45.2%), tile setters (+15.5%), linemen (+12.3%). The most openings a year, counting replacements as well as growth, come from construction laborers (2,110 a year), construction supervisors (1,220 a year), electricians (970 a year). The largest specialty-contractor group in the state is building equipment contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), with 33,857 jobs (2025 annual average, QCEW).

TradeProjected change 2024–2034Openings a yearJobs in 2024Median $/hr
Solar installer+45.2%50310$24.27
Tile setter+15.5%30390$20.92
Lineman+12.3%2402,650$36.96
Welder+12.1%9107,960$24.03
Electrician+11.1%9709,560$28.24
Construction manager+10.9%6607,450$51.98
Machinist+10.7%5604,920$27.87
Construction laborer+10.0%2,11022,790$20.65
HVAC technician+9.9%7407,590$27.22
Diesel mechanic+8.2%3203,500$28.53
Construction supervisor+7.6%1,22014,560$36.23
Heavy equipment operator+7.5%7408,140$23.53

Source: South Carolina long-term occupational projections via Projections Central; state counts include the self-employed. Projections, not guarantees; see each trade page for the national BLS outlook.

Construction jobs in South Carolina

130.0kConstruction jobs2026-09
+4.2%Change over 12 months
+23.5%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-202660k80k100k120k140k19901995200020052010201520202025130kSep 2026
Construction employment in South Carolina, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in South Carolina

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In South Carolina, 31 of 46 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $46.79/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Metros in South Carolina

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in South Carolina?

Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $51.98 an hour in May 2025, followed by elevator mechanics ($43.68) and linemen ($36.96).

Which trades are in highest demand in South Carolina?

By projected growth between 2024 and 2034, solar installers (+45.2%), tile setters (+15.5%), linemen (+12.3%). By openings a year, construction laborers (2,110 a year), construction supervisors (1,220 a year), electricians (970 a year). The figures come from South Carolina's labor market agency via Projections Central and count replacement openings as well as new jobs.

How does South Carolina compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 27 trades listed, 0 pay above the national median in South Carolina and 27 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 93.7% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-09.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities.
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).