Cement mason salary in South Carolina
Median $23.73 an hour for 1,930 cement masons, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Cement mason pay in South Carolina: the full range
South Carolina ranks 39th of 51 states for median cement mason pay, and 40th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.33). 1,930 cement masons work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.1× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $17.67 – $21.74 | $36,760 – $45,210 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.74 – $29.70 | $45,210 – $61,770 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $29.70 – $36.89 | $61,770 – $76,730 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Cement mason pay by metro in South Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $18.98 | $25.27 | $25.02 | $39.20 | 300 | 6% above |
| Columbia | $18.66 | $24.36 | $26.00 | $36.89 | 350 | 3% above |
| Greenville | $17.90 | $24.29 | $26.03 | $37.68 | 470 | 2% above |
| Hilton Head | $17.44 | $23.76 | $24.24 | $38.93 | 90 | about the same as |
| Charlotte | $18.51 | $23.17 | $23.81 | $30.42 | 1,390 | 2% below |
| Spartanburg | $20.14 | $23.14 | $25.40 | $32.34 | 110 | 2% below |
| Florence | $17.84 | $22.37 | $25.77 | $29.33 | 110 | 6% below |
| Augusta | $16.44 | $22.29 | $24.25 | $33.22 | 160 | 6% below |
| Myrtle Beach | $17.18 | $22.02 | $23.53 | $35.85 | 110 | 7% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Cement mason wages in South Carolina over time
Table
| Year | South Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.35 | $21.93 | $13.68 | 2,430 |
| 2000 | $11.90 | $22.25 | $13.50 | 1,970 |
| 2001 | $12.23 | $22.23 | $14.25 | 2,220 |
| 2002 | $12.67 | $22.67 | $14.74 | 2,220 |
| 2003 | $12.85 | $22.48 | $14.80 | 2,240 |
| 2004 | $11.94 | $20.35 | $15.10 | 2,570 |
| 2005 | $12.50 | $20.61 | $15.40 | 2,680 |
| 2006 | $12.69 | $20.27 | $15.70 | 2,760 |
| 2007 | $13.88 | $21.55 | $16.27 | 2,540 |
| 2008 | $13.71 | $20.50 | $16.87 | 2,650 |
| 2009 | $14.15 | $21.23 | $17.04 | 2,180 |
| 2010 | $14.17 | $20.92 | $17.04 | 2,030 |
| 2011 | $14.03 | $20.08 | $17.11 | 1,720 |
| 2012 | $13.99 | $19.62 | $17.19 | 1,370 |
| 2013 | $13.70 | $18.93 | $17.37 | 1,520 |
| 2014 | $14.69 | $19.98 | $17.67 | 1,530 |
| 2015 | $15.53 | $21.09 | $18.14 | 1,520 |
| 2016 | $16.62 | $22.29 | $18.84 | 1,670 |
| 2017 | $16.63 | $21.84 | $19.54 | 1,800 |
| 2018 | $17.62 | $22.59 | $20.67 | 2,330 |
| 2019 | $18.37 | $23.13 | $21.54 | 2,120 |
| 2020 | $19.19 | $23.87 | $22.12 | 2,080 |
| 2021 | $17.92 | $21.29 | $22.76 | 1,750 |
| 2022 | $19.51 | $21.46 | $23.22 | 1,830 |
| 2023 | $22.09 | $23.34 | $24.38 | 1,600 |
| 2024 | $22.80 | $23.40 | $26.28 | 1,770 |
| 2025 | $23.73 | $23.73 | $27.41 | 1,930 |
In today's dollars, the median cement mason wage in South Carolina changed by +12.5% over the last ten years of data and by +2.6% since 2019.
Are there more cement mason jobs in South Carolina?
BLS counted 1,930 cement masons in South Carolina in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 14%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for cement masons in South Carolina
South Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of cement masons in the state to change by +3.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,770 to 1,840, with about 130 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +1.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 1,930 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for cement masons in South Carolina
On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay cement masons at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 2 of the 23 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $38.75 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $14.77). 21 of the 23 counties still use a survey rate dated 2008 or earlier (for example Allendale County at $48.05). The market median for the state is $23.73.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allendale | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $30.74 | $17.31 | $48.05 | SC20260002 |
| Barnwell | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $30.74 | $17.31 | $48.05 | SC20260002 |
| Aiken | Union PLAS0148-002 2024-01-01 | $27.70 | $11.05 | $38.75 | SC20260032 |
| Edgefield | Union PLAS0148-002 2024-01-01 | $27.70 | $11.05 | $38.75 | SC20260032 |
| Calhoun | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $15.29 | $0.00 | $15.29 | SC20260033 |
| Fairfield | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $15.29 | $0.00 | $15.29 | SC20260033 |
| Kershaw | Survey SUSC2011-023 2011-08-31 | $15.29 | $0.00 | $15.29 | SC20260027 |
| Lexington | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $15.29 | $0.00 | $15.29 | SC20260033 |
| Richland | Survey SUSC2011-024 2011-08-31 | $15.29 | $0.00 | $15.29 | SC20260028 |
| Saluda | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $15.29 | $0.00 | $15.29 | SC20260033 |
| Berkeley | Survey SUSC2011-018 2011-08-31 | $14.77 | $0.00 | $14.77 | SC20260022 |
| Charleston | Survey SUSC2011-019 2011-08-31 | $14.77 | $0.00 | $14.77 | SC20260023 |
| Dorchester | Survey SUSC2011-020 2011-08-31 | $14.77 | $0.00 | $14.77 | SC20260024 |
| Horry | Survey SUSC2011-022 2011-08-31 | $14.77 | $0.00 | $14.77 | SC20260026 |
| Darlington | Survey SUSC2011-030 2011-08-31 | $14.63 | $0.00 | $14.63 | SC20260005 |
| Florence | Survey SUSC2011-030 2011-08-31 | $14.63 | $0.00 | $14.63 | SC20260005 |
| Sumter | Survey SUSC2011-026 2011-08-31 | $14.63 | $0.00 | $14.63 | SC20260030 |
| Anderson | Survey SUSC2011-017 2011-08-31 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | SC20260021 |
| Greenville | Survey SUSC2011-021 2011-08-31 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | SC20260025 |
| Laurens | Survey SUSC2011-031 2011-08-31 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | SC20260006 |
| Pickens | Survey SUSC2011-031 2011-08-31 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | SC20260006 |
| Spartanburg | Survey SUSC2011-025 2011-08-31 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | SC20260029 |
| York | Survey SUSC2011-027 2011-08-31 | $14.10 | $0.00 | $14.10 | SC20260031 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. 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?
Keep comparing
Cement mason pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
More on South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do cement masons make in South Carolina?
The median cement mason in South Carolina earned $23.73 an hour ($49,360 a year) in May 2025, 13% below the national median of $27.41. The middle half earn $21.74–$29.70; the top 10% earn more than $36.89.
Where does South Carolina rank for cement mason pay?
South Carolina ranks 39th of 51 states for cement mason pay, with a median of $23.73 an hour, and 40th after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
What is the union cement mason rate in South Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for cement masons in 2 counties, with a typical package of $38.75 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many cement masons work in South Carolina?
BLS counted 1,930 cement masons in South Carolina in May 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.63; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is cement mason work growing in South Carolina?
South Carolina's labor market agency projects +3.7% growth for cement masons between 2024 and 2034, from 1,770 to 1,840 jobs.
How many cement mason openings a year are there in South Carolina?
South Carolina projects about 130 openings a year for cement masons over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 13,600 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 47-2051. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.