Machinist salary in South Carolina
Median $27.87 an hour for 3,790 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Machinist pay in South Carolina: the full range
South Carolina ranks 31st of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 23rd once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $29.74). 3,790 machinists work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.0× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $18.40 – $22.58 | $38,270 – $46,970 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.58 – $31.39 | $46,970 – $65,290 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $31.39 – $36.37 | $65,290 – $75,650 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in South Carolina
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta | $21.19 | $32.28 | $35.13 | $48.47 | 370 | 16% above |
| Charlotte | $19.17 | $28.95 | $29.75 | $36.58 | 2,390 | 4% above |
| Spartanburg | $20.50 | $28.88 | $31.70 | $35.91 | 420 | 4% above |
| Columbia | $17.48 | $28.64 | $30.57 | $36.02 | 240 | 3% above |
| Charleston | $22.56 | $28.50 | $28.22 | $36.14 | 470 | 2% above |
| Greenville | $18.65 | $27.87 | $29.87 | $34.72 | 1,050 | about the same as |
| Florence | $17.43 | $27.36 | $31.52 | $37.74 | 160 | 2% below |
| Sumter | $19.52 | $23.79 | $27.03 | $38.97 | 90 | 15% below |
| Myrtle Beach | $14.88 | $22.34 | $23.87 | $31.48 | 50 | 20% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Machinist wages in South Carolina over time
Table
| Year | South Carolina $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $15.03 | $29.04 | $14.30 | 8,260 |
| 2000 | $15.54 | $29.05 | $14.78 | 6,790 |
| 2001 | $15.92 | $28.94 | $15.43 | 6,620 |
| 2002 | $15.59 | $27.90 | $15.66 | 5,680 |
| 2003 | $16.09 | $28.15 | $15.91 | 5,400 |
| 2004 | $15.65 | $26.67 | $16.33 | 6,730 |
| 2005 | $15.31 | $25.24 | $16.51 | 6,890 |
| 2006 | $15.27 | $24.39 | $16.71 | 7,530 |
| 2007 | $15.25 | $23.68 | $16.94 | 7,530 |
| 2008 | $15.72 | $23.51 | $17.41 | 7,380 |
| 2009 | $16.84 | $25.27 | $18.10 | 6,520 |
| 2010 | $17.20 | $25.39 | $18.52 | 6,210 |
| 2011 | $17.01 | $24.35 | $18.86 | 6,820 |
| 2012 | $17.17 | $24.08 | $18.99 | 7,600 |
| 2013 | $17.43 | $24.09 | $19.03 | 7,710 |
| 2014 | $17.61 | $23.95 | $19.22 | 8,110 |
| 2015 | $18.55 | $25.20 | $19.49 | 9,300 |
| 2016 | $18.23 | $24.45 | $20.05 | 10,910 |
| 2017 | $17.76 | $23.33 | $20.48 | 12,520 |
| 2018 | $17.44 | $22.36 | $20.97 | 12,480 |
| 2019 | $17.98 | $22.64 | $21.36 | 11,380 |
| 2020 | $17.62 | $21.92 | $22.04 | 11,870 |
| 2021 | $18.21 | $21.64 | $22.95 | 10,510 |
| 2022 | $19.58 | $21.54 | $23.32 | 6,910 |
| 2023 | $23.71 | $25.05 | $24.44 | 4,580 |
| 2024 | $25.50 | $26.17 | $27.00 | 4,530 |
| 2025 | $27.87 | $27.87 | $28.24 | 3,790 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in South Carolina changed by +10.6% over the last ten years of data and by +23.1% since 2019.
Are there more machinist jobs in South Carolina?
Since 1999, the number of machinists counted in South Carolina has changed by -54.1%, against -31.6% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -66.7%.
Table
| Year | South Carolina jobs | South Carolina index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 8,260 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 6,790 | 82 | 100 |
| 2001 | 6,620 | 80 | 93 |
| 2002 | 5,680 | 69 | 88 |
| 2003 | 5,400 | 65 | 88 |
| 2004 | 6,730 | 82 | 86 |
| 2005 | 6,890 | 83 | 88 |
| 2006 | 7,530 | 91 | 92 |
| 2007 | 7,530 | 91 | 98 |
| 2008 | 7,380 | 89 | 100 |
| 2009 | 6,520 | 79 | 91 |
| 2010 | 6,210 | 75 | 84 |
| 2011 | 6,820 | 83 | 88 |
| 2012 | 7,600 | 92 | 92 |
| 2013 | 7,710 | 93 | 93 |
| 2014 | 8,110 | 98 | 94 |
| 2015 | 9,300 | 113 | 95 |
| 2016 | 10,910 | 132 | 93 |
| 2017 | 12,520 | 152 | 90 |
| 2018 | 12,480 | 151 | 92 |
| 2019 | 11,380 | 138 | 91 |
| 2020 | 11,870 | 144 | 86 |
| 2021 | 10,510 | 127 | 79 |
| 2022 | 6,910 | 84 | 76 |
| 2023 | 4,580 | 55 | 69 |
| 2024 | 4,530 | 55 | 71 |
| 2025 | 3,790 | 46 | 68 |
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 machinists in South Carolina
South Carolina's labor market agency projects the number of machinists in the state to change by +10.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 4,920 to 5,440, with about 560 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +1.0% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,790 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: South Carolina labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in South Carolina?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in South Carolina
More on South Carolina
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in South Carolina?
The median machinist in South Carolina earned $27.87 an hour ($57,970 a year) in May 2025, 1% below the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $22.58–$31.39; the top 10% earn more than $36.37.
Where does South Carolina rank for machinist pay?
South Carolina ranks 31st of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $27.87 an hour, and 23rd after adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living (BEA price parity 93.7, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in South Carolina?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most South Carolina counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in South Carolina?
BLS counted 3,790 machinists in South Carolina in May 2025, 1.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.89; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is machinist work growing in South Carolina?
The BLS employer survey count of machinists in South Carolina went from 9,300 in 2015 to 3,790 in 2025, -59.2%, and -66.7% since 2019. South Carolina's labor market agency projects +10.7% growth for machinists between 2024 and 2034, from 4,920 to 5,440 jobs.
How many machinist openings a year are there in South Carolina?
South Carolina projects about 560 openings a year for machinists over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 26,100 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina and metro areas, SOC 51-4041. 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.