Boilermaker salary in South Carolina
Median $35.98 an hour for — boilermakers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Boilermaker pay in South Carolina: the full range
South Carolina ranks 25th of 37 states for median boilermaker pay, and 23rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $38.40). — boilermakers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $34.52 – $35.98 | $71,800 – $74,830 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $35.98 – $36.36 | $74,830 – $75,630 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $36.36 – $37.02 | $75,630 – $77,000 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Boilermaker wages in South Carolina over time
Table
| Year | South Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.63 | $34.07 | $18.09 | 80 |
| 2000 | $12.92 | $24.16 | $17.80 | 240 |
| 2001 | $16.70 | $30.36 | $19.06 | 430 |
| 2002 | $18.16 | $32.50 | $20.17 | 380 |
| 2003 | $18.38 | $32.16 | $20.79 | 380 |
| 2004 | $19.14 | $32.62 | $21.68 | 490 |
| 2005 | $18.66 | $30.76 | $23.10 | — |
| 2006 | $19.11 | $30.52 | $22.58 | — |
| 2007 | $22.70 | $35.25 | $24.38 | 150 |
| 2008 | $22.86 | $34.18 | $25.13 | 200 |
| 2009 | $22.57 | $33.87 | $26.97 | 230 |
| 2010 | $21.63 | $31.94 | $26.27 | 210 |
| 2011 | $25.00 | $35.78 | $27.36 | 160 |
| 2012 | $23.52 | $32.98 | $27.19 | 110 |
| 2013 | $18.13 | $25.06 | $27.74 | — |
| 2014 | $23.98 | $32.61 | $28.78 | 170 |
| 2015 | $24.71 | $33.56 | $28.90 | 230 |
| 2016 | $26.34 | $35.33 | $29.84 | 240 |
| 2017 | $26.96 | $35.41 | $29.93 | 240 |
| 2018 | $28.47 | $36.50 | $29.88 | 210 |
| 2019 | $27.79 | $35.00 | $30.34 | — |
| 2020 | $26.59 | $33.08 | $31.42 | — |
| 2023 | $33.78 | $35.69 | $34.20 | 470 |
| 2024 | $59.81 | $61.38 | $35.26 | — |
| 2025 | $35.98 | $35.98 | $36.74 | — |
In today's dollars, the median boilermaker wage in South Carolina changed by +7.2% over the last ten years of data.
Union scale and prevailing wage for boilermakers in South Carolina
On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay boilermakers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 3 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $64.47). 3 of the 3 counties still use a survey rate dated 2008 or earlier (for example Aiken County at $64.47). The market median for the state is $35.98.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $40.21 | $24.26 | $64.47 | SC20260002 |
| Allendale | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $40.21 | $24.26 | $64.47 | SC20260002 |
| Barnwell | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $40.21 | $24.26 | $64.47 | SC20260002 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the South Carolina prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in South Carolina?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just boilermakers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
| County | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | 3,417 | $76,959 | $1,480 |
| Charleston County | 9,252 | $76,562 | $1,472 |
| Greenville County | 10,145 | $75,194 | $1,446 |
| Cherokee County | 571 | $75,028 | $1,443 |
| York County | 3,694 | $74,667 | $1,436 |
| Florence County | 1,283 | $74,086 | $1,425 |
| Spartanburg County | 5,223 | $72,543 | $1,395 |
| Jasper County | 1,201 | $72,525 | $1,395 |
| Lancaster County | 655 | $72,297 | $1,390 |
| Richland County | 4,681 | $71,669 | $1,378 |
| Edgefield County | 352 | $70,760 | $1,361 |
| Calhoun County | 174 | $70,492 | $1,356 |
| Dorchester County | 1,559 | $67,690 | $1,302 |
| Orangeburg County | 403 | $66,737 | $1,283 |
| Lexington County | 5,371 | $65,676 | $1,263 |
| Beaufort County | 3,234 | $65,229 | $1,254 |
| Chester County | 200 | $64,917 | $1,248 |
| Georgetown County | 1,007 | $64,645 | $1,243 |
| Fairfield County | 149 | $63,911 | $1,229 |
| Barnwell County | 88 | $63,743 | $1,226 |
| Hampton County | 164 | $63,547 | $1,222 |
| Anderson County | 2,144 | $61,746 | $1,187 |
| Laurens County | 480 | $60,635 | $1,166 |
| Sumter County | 911 | $60,632 | $1,166 |
| Greenwood County | 667 | $60,111 | $1,156 |
| Aiken County | 1,445 | $59,290 | $1,140 |
| Darlington County | 444 | $58,688 | $1,129 |
| Horry County | 5,898 | $58,620 | $1,127 |
| Pickens County | 1,036 | $58,096 | $1,117 |
| Oconee County | 852 | $57,842 | $1,112 |
| Newberry County | 390 | $57,836 | $1,112 |
| Union County | 83 | $55,003 | $1,058 |
| Kershaw County | 666 | $54,679 | $1,052 |
| Williamsburg County | 350 | $54,510 | $1,048 |
| Marlboro County | 72 | $51,929 | $999 |
| Saluda County | 92 | $51,500 | $990 |
| Marion County | 61 | $51,488 | $990 |
| Colleton County | 246 | $51,450 | $989 |
| Chesterfield County | 131 | $50,543 | $972 |
| Clarendon County | 122 | $47,916 | $921 |
| Abbeville County | 94 | $47,849 | $920 |
| Dillon County | 92 | $47,462 | $913 |
| McCormick County | 52 | $37,939 | $730 |
| Allendale County | — | — | — |
| Bamberg County | — | — | — |
| Lee County | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Boilermaker pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do boilermakers make in South Carolina?
The median boilermaker in South Carolina earned $35.98 an hour ($74,840 a year) in May 2025, 2% below the national median of $36.74. The middle half earn $35.98–$36.36; the top 10% earn more than $37.02.
Where does South Carolina rank for boilermaker pay?
South Carolina ranks 25th of 37 states for boilermaker pay, with a median of $35.98 an hour, and 23rd after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
What is the union boilermaker rate in South Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a boilermaker classification for most South Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many boilermakers work in South Carolina?
BLS counted — boilermakers in South Carolina in May 2025, 0.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.00; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 47-2011.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.