Lineman salary in South Carolina
Median $36.96 an hour for 2,690 electrical power-line installers and repairers, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Lineman pay in South Carolina: the full range
South Carolina ranks 45th of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 47th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $39.45). 2,690 electrical power-line installers and repairers work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $23.51 – $28.94 | $48,890 – $60,200 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.94 – $45.88 | $60,200 – $95,430 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $45.88 – $49.45 | $95,430 – $102,860 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Lineman pay by metro in South Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $22.15 | $39.30 | $52.62 | 1,130 | 6% above |
| Augusta | $23.47 | $38.71 | $51.96 | 190 | 5% above |
| Greenville | $23.52 | $37.36 | $49.45 | 500 | 1% above |
| Hilton Head | $24.33 | $37.28 | $47.35 | 80 | 1% above |
| Spartanburg | $29.12 | $36.86 | $52.30 | 150 | about the same as |
| Charleston | $23.95 | $36.33 | $47.44 | 300 | 2% below |
| Florence | $23.01 | $36.22 | $50.09 | 70 | 2% below |
| Columbia | $21.50 | $35.67 | $45.88 | 360 | 3% below |
Lineman wages in South Carolina over time
Table
| Year | South Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $17.15 | $33.14 | $20.97 | 1,260 |
| 2000 | $16.52 | $30.89 | $22.01 | 1,820 |
| 2001 | $17.31 | $31.47 | $22.70 | 2,080 |
| 2002 | $18.15 | $32.48 | $23.33 | 1,900 |
| 2003 | $18.02 | $31.53 | $23.54 | 2,360 |
| 2004 | $19.75 | $33.66 | $23.61 | 2,670 |
| 2005 | $20.75 | $34.21 | $24.11 | 2,830 |
| 2006 | $21.07 | $33.65 | $24.41 | 2,430 |
| 2007 | $21.82 | $33.88 | $25.27 | 2,230 |
| 2008 | $21.94 | $32.81 | $26.49 | 2,170 |
| 2009 | $23.17 | $34.77 | $27.24 | 2,220 |
| 2010 | $23.55 | $34.77 | $27.90 | 2,170 |
| 2011 | $24.91 | $35.65 | $28.94 | 2,030 |
| 2012 | $25.02 | $35.08 | $30.41 | 2,400 |
| 2013 | $24.23 | $33.49 | $30.85 | 2,850 |
| 2014 | $24.70 | $33.59 | $31.70 | 2,770 |
| 2015 | $25.61 | $34.79 | $31.95 | 2,770 |
| 2016 | $26.63 | $35.72 | $32.70 | 2,770 |
| 2017 | $26.62 | $34.96 | $33.36 | 4,110 |
| 2018 | $28.63 | $36.71 | $34.09 | 3,110 |
| 2019 | $30.44 | $38.33 | $34.86 | 2,690 |
| 2020 | $30.68 | $38.16 | $36.07 | 2,640 |
| 2021 | $29.31 | $34.82 | $37.65 | 2,990 |
| 2022 | $31.46 | $34.61 | $39.59 | 2,920 |
| 2023 | $32.75 | $34.60 | $41.07 | 2,570 |
| 2024 | $36.06 | $37.01 | $44.50 | 2,290 |
| 2025 | $36.96 | $36.96 | $45.83 | 2,690 |
In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in South Carolina changed by +6.2% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in South Carolina?
Keep comparing
Lineman pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do linemans make in South Carolina?
The median lineman in South Carolina earned $36.96 an hour ($76,870 a year) in May 2025, 19% below the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $28.94–$45.88; the top 10% earn more than $49.45.
Where does South Carolina rank for lineman pay?
South Carolina ranks 45th of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $36.96 an hour, and 47th after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
What is the union lineman rate in South Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a lineman classification for most South Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many linemans work in South Carolina?
BLS counted 2,690 electrical power-line installers and repairers in South Carolina in May 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.38; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 49-9051.
- 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.