Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in South Carolina

Median $28.24 an hour for 8,010 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$28.24/hrMedian hourly wageSouth Carolina, May data
$58,740/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$21.31 – $37.4110th to 90th percentilehourly range
8,010Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Electrician pay in South Carolina: the full range

Wage percentiles, South CarolinaMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrSouth Carolina: 10th $21.31 · 25th $23.03 · median $28.24 · 75th $31.82 · 90th $37.41South Carolina$28.24$21.31$37.41United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: South Carolina vs United States, May 2025.

South Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 42nd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $30.14). 8,010 electricians work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$21.31 – $23.03$44,330 – $47,910roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.03 – $31.82$47,910 – $66,190the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$31.82 – $37.41$66,190 – $77,800the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in South Carolina

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrSpartanburg: $29.83Spartanburg$29.83Columbia: $29.03Columbia$29.03Greenville: $28.95Greenville$28.95Augusta: $28.69Augusta$28.69Charlotte: $28.41Charlotte$28.41Charleston: $28.37Charleston$28.37Florence: $27.67Florence$27.67Hilton Head: $27.42Hilton Head$27.42Sumter: $27.02Sumter$27.02Myrtle Beach: $24.62Myrtle Beach$24.62
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in South Carolina, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Spartanburg$22.53$29.83$32.74$37.646006% above
Columbia$21.80$29.03$30.98$37.651,1703% above
Greenville$22.07$28.95$31.03$37.421,6703% above
Augusta$18.24$28.69$31.22$52.178602% above
Charlotte$21.04$28.41$29.20$36.695,2501% above
Charleston$21.91$28.37$28.09$36.381,480about the same as
Florence$20.76$27.67$31.88$34.342402% below
Hilton Head$21.68$27.42$27.98$35.512203% below
Sumter$21.00$27.02$30.70$33.47904% below
Myrtle Beach$20.72$24.62$26.30$29.7536013% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Electrician wages in South Carolina over time

South Carolina, 1999-2025South CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$10$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.38United States$28.24South Carolina
Median hourly wage for electricians, South Carolina vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearSouth Carolina $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$15.22$29.41$19.139,780
2000$15.15$28.32$19.299,180
2001$15.63$28.41$19.608,260
2002$16.09$28.79$19.908,070
2003$16.03$28.05$20.047,520
2004$16.38$27.92$20.336,490
2005$16.98$27.99$20.577,750
2006$16.77$26.78$20.978,690
2007$16.78$26.05$21.539,720
2008$17.04$25.48$22.329,240
2009$17.66$26.50$22.687,590
2010$18.32$27.05$23.206,210
2011$18.39$26.32$23.716,030
2012$18.50$25.94$23.965,810
2013$18.16$25.10$24.286,310
2014$19.08$25.95$24.576,850
2015$20.17$27.40$24.947,020
2016$20.36$27.31$25.357,520
2017$20.86$27.40$26.018,850
2018$21.02$26.95$26.539,080
2019$22.06$27.78$27.0110,510
2020$22.56$28.06$27.369,790
2021$22.88$27.18$28.879,560
2022$23.48$25.83$28.967,870
2023$24.98$26.39$29.617,320
2024$28.01$28.75$29.987,830
2025$28.24$28.24$30.388,010

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in South Carolina changed by +3.1% over the last ten years of data and by +1.7% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in South Carolina?

-23.8%Jobs since 201910,510 then, 8,010 in 2025
+14.1%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
3.5Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 0.7× the US share, 50th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in South Carolina has changed by -18.1%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -23.8%.

Electricians in South Carolina vs United States, 1999 = 100South CarolinaUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages406080100120140200020052010201520202025124United States82South Carolina
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, South Carolina vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearSouth Carolina jobsSouth Carolina indexUS index
19999,780100100
20009,18094105
20018,26084102
20028,0708297
20037,5207795
20046,4906695
20057,7507999
20068,69089101
20079,72099102
20089,24094103
20097,5907895
20106,2106484
20116,0306284
20125,8105985
20136,3106489
20146,8507093
20157,0207297
20167,5207799
20178,85090103
20189,08093107
201910,510108112
20209,790100107
20219,56098106
20227,87080113
20237,32075116
20247,83080121
20258,01082124

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for electricians in South Carolina

+11.1%Projected growth in South Carolina2024–2034, state agency
970Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
9,560Jobs in 202410,620 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

South Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +11.1% between 2024 and 2034, from 9,560 to 10,620, with about 970 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.2% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 8,010 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 electricians in South Carolina

On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 31 of the 46 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $46.79 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $15.86). 15 of the 46 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Allendale County at $24.03). The market median for the state is $28.24.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, SCAbbeville: $49.20 (union)Aiken: $49.20 (union)Allendale: $24.03 (survey)Anderson: $45.97 (union)Bamberg: $24.03 (survey)Barnwell: $24.03 (survey)Beaufort: $18.33 (survey)Berkeley: $46.79 (union)Calhoun: $46.79 (union)Charleston: $15.86 (survey)Cherokee: $49.20 (union)Chester: $15.00 (survey)Chesterfield: $15.00 (survey)Clarendon: $15.00 (survey)Colleton: $46.79 (union)Darlington: $46.79 (union)Dillon: $15.00 (survey)Dorchester: $46.79 (union)Edgefield: $49.20 (union)Fairfield: $46.79 (union)Florence: $46.79 (union)Georgetown: $46.75 (union)Greenville: $45.97 (union)Greenwood: $45.97 (union)Hampton: $46.75 (union)Horry: $18.15 (survey)Jasper: $46.75 (union)Kershaw: $46.79 (union)Lancaster: $45.97 (union)Laurens: $45.97 (union)Lee: $15.00 (survey)Lexington: $46.79 (union)McCormick: $49.20 (union)Marion: $15.00 (survey)Marlboro: $15.00 (survey)Newberry: $24.03 (survey)Oconee: $49.20 (union)Orangeburg: $24.03 (survey)Pickens: $45.97 (union)Richland: $46.79 (union)Saluda: $46.79 (union)Spartanburg: $45.97 (union)Sumter: $46.79 (union)Union: $49.20 (union)Williamsburg: $46.75 (union)York: $45.97 (union)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$18.33$45.97$46.79survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for electricians by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrAiken (Augusta): market median $28.69, prevailing (union) $49.20, gap +$20.51Aiken (Augusta)+$20.51Sumter (Sumter): market median $27.02, prevailing (union) $46.79, gap +$19.77Sumter (Sumter)+$19.77Union (Spartanburg): market median $29.83, prevailing (union) $49.20, gap +$19.37Union (Spartanburg)+$19.37Jasper (Hilton Head): market median $27.42, prevailing (union) $46.75, gap +$19.33Jasper (Hilton Head)+$19.33Darlington (Florence): market median $27.67, prevailing (union) $46.79, gap +$19.12Darlington (Florence)+$19.12Berkeley (Charleston): market median $28.37, prevailing (union) $46.79, gap +$18.42Berkeley (Charleston)+$18.42Calhoun (Columbia): market median $29.03, prevailing (union) $46.79, gap +$17.76Calhoun (Columbia)+$17.76Lancaster (Charlotte): market median $28.41, prevailing (union) $45.97, gap +$17.56Lancaster (Charlotte)+$17.56Anderson (Greenville): market median $28.95, prevailing (union) $45.97, gap +$17.02Anderson (Greenville)+$17.02Horry (Myrtle Beach): market median $24.62, prevailing (survey) $18.15, gap −$6.47Horry (Myrtle Beach)−$6.47
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in South Carolina.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
AbbevilleUnion ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01$32.25$16.95$49.20SC20260017
AikenUnion ELEC1579-001 2025-10-01$32.25$16.95$49.20SC20260032
CherokeeUnion ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01$32.25$16.95$49.20SC20260017
EdgefieldUnion ELEC1579-001 2025-10-01$32.25$16.95$49.20SC20260032
McCormickUnion ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01$32.25$16.95$49.20SC20260017
OconeeUnion ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01$32.25$16.95$49.20SC20260017
UnionUnion ELEC1579-012 2025-10-01$32.25$16.95$49.20SC20260017
BerkeleyUnion ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01$32.80$13.99$46.79SC20260022
CalhounUnion ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01$32.80$13.99$46.79SC20260033
ColletonUnion ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01$32.80$13.99$46.79SC20260011
DarlingtonUnion ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01$32.80$13.99$46.79SC20260005
DorchesterUnion ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01$32.80$13.99$46.79SC20260024
FairfieldUnion ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01$32.80$13.99$46.79SC20260033
FlorenceUnion ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01$32.80$13.99$46.79SC20260005
KershawUnion ELEC0776-002 2024-03-01$32.80$13.99$46.79SC20260027

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?

130.0kConstruction jobsSouth Carolina, 2026-09
+4.2%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202660k80k100k120k140k19901995200020052010201520202025130kSep 2026
Construction employment in South Carolina (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at electrical contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just electricians), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 41 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 49,293 in 2015 to 69,005 in 2025, +40.0%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Berkeley County56746$86,600$1,665
Greenville County1423,031$82,971$1,596
Charleston County1191,791$79,866$1,536
York County70540$79,225$1,524
Richland County64811$75,980$1,461
Orangeburg County1277$70,976$1,365
Lancaster County17193$69,792$1,342
Sumter County14155$69,516$1,337
Dorchester County38314$69,030$1,328
Lexington County88780$64,644$1,243
Anderson County33239$63,384$1,219
Spartanburg County67586$61,466$1,182

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in South Carolina

More on South Carolina

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in South Carolina?

The median electrician in South Carolina earned $28.24 an hour ($58,740 a year) in May 2025, 7% below the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $23.03–$31.82; the top 10% earn more than $37.41.

Where does South Carolina rank for electrician pay?

South Carolina ranks 44th of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $28.24 an hour, and 42nd after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in South Carolina?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 31 counties, with a typical package of $46.79 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in South Carolina?

BLS counted 8,010 electricians in South Carolina in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.71; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in South Carolina?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in South Carolina went from 7,020 in 2015 to 8,010 in 2025, +14.1%, and -23.8% since 2019. South Carolina's labor market agency projects +11.1% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 9,560 to 10,620 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in South Carolina?

South Carolina projects about 970 openings a year for electricians over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 72,700 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 47-2111. 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.