Heavy equipment operator salary in South Carolina
Median $23.53 an hour for 8,160 heavy equipment operators, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Heavy equipment operator pay in South Carolina: the full range
South Carolina ranks 46th of 51 states for median heavy equipment operator pay, and 47th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $25.11). 8,160 heavy equipment operators work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.61 – $21.62 | $38,720 – $44,960 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $21.62 – $27.78 | $44,960 – $57,780 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $27.78 – $30.93 | $57,780 – $64,330 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Heavy equipment operator pay by metro in South Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $20.18 | $24.46 | $25.14 | $33.85 | 4,440 | 4% above |
| Hilton Head | $20.03 | $24.39 | $24.89 | $33.20 | 320 | 4% above |
| Charleston | $19.49 | $24.35 | $24.11 | $34.66 | 1,470 | 3% above |
| Sumter | $19.44 | $24.20 | $27.50 | $27.79 | 220 | 3% above |
| Greenville | $18.65 | $23.55 | $25.24 | $30.56 | 1,130 | about the same as |
| Spartanburg | $18.64 | $23.53 | $25.83 | $30.20 | 650 | about the same as |
| Columbia | $18.34 | $23.27 | $24.83 | $29.92 | 1,120 | 1% below |
| Augusta | $18.61 | $23.17 | $25.21 | $32.23 | 670 | 2% below |
| Florence | $18.77 | $23.08 | $26.59 | $34.69 | 250 | 2% below |
| Myrtle Beach | $18.50 | $22.59 | $24.13 | $28.11 | 980 | 4% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Heavy equipment operator wages in South Carolina over time
Table
| Year | South Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $11.11 | $21.47 | $15.31 | 5,760 |
| 2000 | $11.64 | $21.76 | $15.99 | 5,100 |
| 2001 | $12.13 | $22.05 | $16.42 | 5,400 |
| 2002 | $12.83 | $22.96 | $16.94 | 5,150 |
| 2003 | $13.23 | $23.15 | $16.84 | 5,220 |
| 2004 | $13.81 | $23.54 | $17.00 | 5,000 |
| 2005 | $13.93 | $22.96 | $17.23 | 5,690 |
| 2006 | $13.94 | $22.26 | $17.74 | 6,270 |
| 2007 | $14.46 | $22.45 | $18.33 | 6,300 |
| 2008 | $14.82 | $22.16 | $18.88 | 5,710 |
| 2009 | $15.49 | $23.24 | $19.12 | 4,460 |
| 2010 | $15.67 | $23.14 | $19.42 | 4,650 |
| 2011 | $16.03 | $22.94 | $19.96 | 4,630 |
| 2012 | $16.16 | $22.66 | $20.13 | 4,510 |
| 2013 | $16.18 | $22.36 | $20.45 | 4,490 |
| 2014 | $16.16 | $21.98 | $20.92 | 4,760 |
| 2015 | $16.57 | $22.51 | $21.44 | 5,060 |
| 2016 | $17.37 | $23.30 | $22.06 | 5,390 |
| 2017 | $17.57 | $23.08 | $22.61 | 6,170 |
| 2018 | $18.07 | $23.17 | $22.98 | 6,570 |
| 2019 | $18.26 | $22.99 | $23.55 | 6,890 |
| 2020 | $18.49 | $23.00 | $23.93 | 7,050 |
| 2021 | $18.19 | $21.61 | $23.25 | 7,230 |
| 2022 | $19.79 | $21.77 | $24.73 | 7,420 |
| 2023 | $22.30 | $23.56 | $27.00 | 8,360 |
| 2024 | $22.83 | $23.43 | $28.23 | 8,430 |
| 2025 | $23.53 | $23.53 | $28.78 | 8,160 |
In today's dollars, the median heavy equipment operator wage in South Carolina changed by +4.5% over the last ten years of data and by +2.3% since 2019.
Are there more heavy equipment operator jobs in South Carolina?
Since 1999, the number of heavy equipment operators counted in South Carolina has changed by +41.7%, against +47.4% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +18.4%.
Table
| Year | South Carolina jobs | South Carolina index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 5,760 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 5,100 | 88 | 103 |
| 2001 | 5,400 | 94 | 109 |
| 2002 | 5,150 | 89 | 106 |
| 2003 | 5,220 | 91 | 106 |
| 2004 | 5,000 | 87 | 110 |
| 2005 | 5,690 | 99 | 117 |
| 2006 | 6,270 | 109 | 121 |
| 2007 | 6,300 | 109 | 124 |
| 2008 | 5,710 | 99 | 123 |
| 2009 | 4,460 | 77 | 114 |
| 2010 | 4,650 | 81 | 103 |
| 2011 | 4,630 | 80 | 103 |
| 2012 | 4,510 | 78 | 103 |
| 2013 | 4,490 | 78 | 105 |
| 2014 | 4,760 | 83 | 106 |
| 2015 | 5,060 | 88 | 110 |
| 2016 | 5,390 | 94 | 110 |
| 2017 | 6,170 | 107 | 113 |
| 2018 | 6,570 | 114 | 118 |
| 2019 | 6,890 | 120 | 125 |
| 2020 | 7,050 | 122 | 124 |
| 2021 | 7,230 | 126 | 125 |
| 2022 | 7,420 | 129 | 130 |
| 2023 | 8,360 | 145 | 139 |
| 2024 | 8,430 | 146 | 145 |
| 2025 | 8,160 | 142 | 147 |
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 heavy equipment operators in South Carolina
South Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of heavy equipment operators in the state to change by +7.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 8,140 to 8,760, with about 740 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 8,160 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 heavy equipment operators in South Carolina
On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay heavy equipment operators at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 46 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $18.34). 46 of the 46 counties still use a survey rate dated 2011 or earlier (for example Abbeville County at $17.93). The market median for the state is $23.53.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley | Survey SUSC2011-018 2011-08-31 | $19.62 | $3.54 | $23.16 | SC20260022 |
| Charleston | Survey SUSC2011-019 2011-08-31 | $19.62 | $3.54 | $23.16 | SC20260023 |
| Dorchester | Survey SUSC2011-020 2011-08-31 | $19.62 | $3.54 | $23.16 | SC20260024 |
| Beaufort | Survey SUSC2011-004 2011-08-31 | $19.14 | $2.62 | $21.76 | SC20260008 |
| Aiken | Survey SUSC2011-028 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260032 |
| Calhoun | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260033 |
| Darlington | Survey SUSC2011-030 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260005 |
| Edgefield | Survey SUSC2011-028 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260032 |
| Fairfield | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260033 |
| Florence | Survey SUSC2011-030 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260005 |
| Kershaw | Survey SUSC2011-023 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260027 |
| Lexington | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260033 |
| Richland | Survey SUSC2011-024 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260028 |
| Saluda | Survey SUSC2011-029 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260033 |
| Sumter | Survey SUSC2011-026 2011-08-31 | $16.81 | $2.67 | $19.48 | SC20260030 |
| Colleton | Survey SUSC2011-007 2011-08-31 | $16.95 | $1.83 | $18.78 | SC20260011 |
| Georgetown | Survey SUSC2011-016 2011-08-31 | $16.95 | $1.83 | $18.78 | SC20260020 |
| Hampton | Survey SUSC2011-009 2011-08-31 | $16.95 | $1.83 | $18.78 | SC20260013 |
| Jasper | Survey SUSC2011-016 2011-08-31 | $16.95 | $1.83 | $18.78 | SC20260020 |
| Williamsburg | Survey SUSC2011-016 2011-08-31 | $16.95 | $1.83 | $18.78 | SC20260020 |
| Greenville | Survey SUSC2011-021 2011-08-31 | $16.68 | $2.02 | $18.70 | SC20260025 |
| Laurens | Survey SUSC2011-031 2011-08-31 | $16.19 | $2.28 | $18.47 | SC20260006 |
| Pickens | Survey SUSC2011-031 2011-08-31 | $16.19 | $2.28 | $18.47 | SC20260006 |
| Allendale | Survey SUSC2011-014 2011-08-31 | $16.39 | $1.83 | $18.22 | SC20260018 |
| Bamberg | Survey SUSC2011-014 2011-08-31 | $16.39 | $1.83 | $18.22 | SC20260018 |
| Barnwell | Survey SUSC2011-003 2011-08-31 | $16.39 | $1.83 | $18.22 | SC20260007 |
| Newberry | Survey SUSC2011-011 2011-08-31 | $16.39 | $1.83 | $18.22 | SC20260015 |
| Orangeburg | Survey SUSC2011-012 2011-08-31 | $16.39 | $1.83 | $18.22 | SC20260016 |
| Anderson | Survey SUSC2011-017 2011-08-31 | $16.05 | $1.96 | $18.01 | SC20260021 |
| Spartanburg | Survey SUSC2011-025 2011-08-31 | $16.05 | $1.96 | $18.01 | SC20260029 |
| York | Survey SUSC2011-027 2011-08-31 | $16.05 | $1.96 | $18.01 | SC20260031 |
| Abbeville | Survey SUSC2011-013 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260017 |
| Cherokee | Survey SUSC2011-013 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260017 |
| Chester | Survey SUSC2011-005 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260009 |
| Chesterfield | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260019 |
| Clarendon | Survey SUSC2011-006 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260010 |
| Dillon | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260019 |
| Greenwood | Survey SUSC2011-008 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260012 |
| Lancaster | Survey SUSC2011-010 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260014 |
| Lee | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260019 |
| McCormick | Survey SUSC2011-013 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260017 |
| Marion | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260019 |
| Marlboro | Survey SUSC2011-015 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260019 |
| Oconee | Survey SUSC2011-013 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260017 |
| Union | Survey SUSC2011-013 2011-08-31 | $16.17 | $1.76 | $17.93 | SC20260017 |
| Horry | Survey SUSC2011-022 2011-08-31 | $17.04 | $0.25 | $17.29 | SC20260026 |
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?
Contractor pay by county
Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just heavy equipment operators), 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%.
| County | Establishments | Employees | Average annual pay | Avg weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley County | 436 | 3,417 | $76,959 | $1,480 |
| Charleston County | 1,039 | 9,252 | $76,562 | $1,472 |
| Greenville County | 1,130 | 10,145 | $75,194 | $1,446 |
| Cherokee County | 59 | 571 | $75,028 | $1,443 |
| York County | 548 | 3,694 | $74,667 | $1,436 |
| Florence County | 148 | 1,283 | $74,086 | $1,425 |
| Spartanburg County | 528 | 5,223 | $72,543 | $1,395 |
| Jasper County | 137 | 1,201 | $72,525 | $1,395 |
| Lancaster County | 113 | 655 | $72,297 | $1,390 |
| Richland County | 466 | 4,681 | $71,669 | $1,378 |
| Edgefield County | 40 | 352 | $70,760 | $1,361 |
| Calhoun County | 20 | 174 | $70,492 | $1,356 |
| Dorchester County | 285 | 1,559 | $67,690 | $1,302 |
| Orangeburg County | 77 | 403 | $66,737 | $1,283 |
| Lexington County | 672 | 5,371 | $65,676 | $1,263 |
| Beaufort County | 603 | 3,234 | $65,229 | $1,254 |
| Chester County | 34 | 200 | $64,917 | $1,248 |
| Georgetown County | 145 | 1,007 | $64,645 | $1,243 |
| Fairfield County | 28 | 149 | $63,911 | $1,229 |
| Barnwell County | 21 | 88 | $63,743 | $1,226 |
| Hampton County | 22 | 164 | $63,547 | $1,222 |
| Anderson County | 318 | 2,144 | $61,746 | $1,187 |
| Laurens County | 66 | 480 | $60,635 | $1,166 |
| Sumter County | 104 | 911 | $60,632 | $1,166 |
| Greenwood County | 90 | 667 | $60,111 | $1,156 |
| Aiken County | 242 | 1,445 | $59,290 | $1,140 |
| Darlington County | 60 | 444 | $58,688 | $1,129 |
| Horry County | 888 | 5,898 | $58,620 | $1,127 |
| Pickens County | 230 | 1,036 | $58,096 | $1,117 |
| Oconee County | 192 | 852 | $57,842 | $1,112 |
| Newberry County | 67 | 390 | $57,836 | $1,112 |
| Union County | 17 | 83 | $55,003 | $1,058 |
| Kershaw County | 124 | 666 | $54,679 | $1,052 |
| Williamsburg County | 35 | 350 | $54,510 | $1,048 |
| Marlboro County | 12 | 72 | $51,929 | $999 |
| Saluda County | 17 | 92 | $51,500 | $990 |
| Marion County | 15 | 61 | $51,488 | $990 |
| Colleton County | 68 | 246 | $51,450 | $989 |
| Chesterfield County | 37 | 131 | $50,543 | $972 |
| Clarendon County | 27 | 122 | $47,916 | $921 |
| Abbeville County | 26 | 94 | $47,849 | $920 |
| Dillon County | 16 | 92 | $47,462 | $913 |
| McCormick County | 19 | 52 | $37,939 | $730 |
| Allendale County | — | — | — | — |
| Bamberg County | — | — | — | — |
| Lee County | — | — | — | — |
Keep comparing
Heavy equipment operator pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
More on South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do heavy equipment operators make in South Carolina?
The median heavy equipment operator in South Carolina earned $23.53 an hour ($48,940 a year) in May 2025, 18% below the national median of $28.78. The middle half earn $21.62–$27.78; the top 10% earn more than $30.93.
Where does South Carolina rank for heavy equipment operator pay?
South Carolina ranks 46th of 51 states for heavy equipment operator pay, with a median of $23.53 an hour, and 47th after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
What is the union heavy equipment operator rate in South Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a heavy equipment operator classification for most South Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many heavy equipment operators work in South Carolina?
BLS counted 8,160 heavy equipment operators in South Carolina in May 2025, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.15; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is heavy equipment operator work growing in South Carolina?
The BLS employer survey count of heavy equipment operators in South Carolina went from 5,060 in 2015 to 8,160 in 2025, +61.3%, and +18.4% since 2019. South Carolina's labor market agency projects +7.5% growth for heavy equipment operators between 2024 and 2034, from 8,140 to 8,760 jobs.
How many heavy equipment operator openings a year are there in South Carolina?
South Carolina projects about 740 openings a year for heavy equipment operators over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 39,200 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 47-2073. 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.