Lineman salary in South Carolina
Median $36.96 an hour for 2,690 linemen, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
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 linemen 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 | $23.51 – $28.94 | $48,890 – $60,200 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $28.94 – $45.88 | $60,200 – $95,430 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $45.88 – $49.45 | $95,430 – $102,860 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Lineman pay by metro in South Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $22.15 | $39.30 | $40.39 | $52.62 | 1,130 | 6% above |
| Augusta | $23.47 | $38.71 | $42.12 | $51.96 | 190 | 5% above |
| Greenville | $23.52 | $37.36 | $40.04 | $49.45 | 500 | 1% above |
| Hilton Head | $24.33 | $37.28 | $38.04 | $47.35 | 80 | 1% above |
| Spartanburg | $29.12 | $36.86 | $40.46 | $52.30 | 150 | about the same as |
| Charleston | $23.95 | $36.33 | $35.97 | $47.44 | 300 | 2% below |
| Florence | $23.01 | $36.22 | $41.73 | $50.09 | 70 | 2% below |
| Columbia | $21.50 | $35.67 | $38.07 | $45.88 | 360 | 3% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
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 and by -3.6% since 2019.
Are there more lineman jobs in South Carolina?
BLS counted 2,690 linemen in South Carolina in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 5%. 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 linemen in South Carolina
South Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of linemen in the state to change by +12.3% between 2024 and 2034, from 2,650 to 2,980, with about 240 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 2,690 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 linemen in South Carolina
On federally funded construction in South Carolina, contractors must pay linemen 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 $55.73). 3 of the 3 counties still use a survey rate dated 2008 or earlier (for example Aiken County at $55.73). The market median for the state is $36.96.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $37.50 | $18.23 | $55.73 | SC20260002 |
| Allendale | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $37.50 | $18.23 | $55.73 | SC20260002 |
| Barnwell | Survey SUSC2011-002 2008-10-01 | $37.50 | $18.23 | $55.73 | SC20260002 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. 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
Lineman pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
More on South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do linemen 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 linemen work in South Carolina?
BLS counted 2,690 linemen in South Carolina in May 2025, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.38; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is lineman work growing in South Carolina?
South Carolina's labor market agency projects +12.3% growth for linemen between 2024 and 2034, from 2,650 to 2,980 jobs.
How many lineman openings a year are there in South Carolina?
South Carolina projects about 240 openings a year for linemen over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 10,900 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 49-9051. 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 2026-11-06. 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.