Highest Paying Trades in South Carolina

The top skilled trades in South Carolina, ranked by median annual salary. Click any trade to see detailed salary breakdowns and metro-level data.

Rank	Trade	Median Salary	Employment	Growth
1	Boilermakers	$124,400	0	+5.9%
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers (Linemen)	$75,010	2,290	+8.8%
3	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$61,260	9,520	+5.5%
4	Millwrights	$59,870	840	+5.4%
5	Stationary Engineers & Boiler Operators	$59,450	260	+8.2%
6	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics	$58,720	2,890	+5.5%
7	Electricians	$58,260	7,830	+5.2%
8	HVAC Mechanics & Installers	$55,260	6,370	+5.7%
9	Heating, AC & Refrigeration Mechanics	$55,260	6,370	+5.7%
10	Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$54,840	5,480	+4.9%
11	Machinists	$53,040	4,530	+8.3%
12	Bus & Truck Mechanics	$52,430	3,260	+8.5%
13	Rotary Drill Operators (Oil & Gas)	$50,850	40	+8.1%
14	Structural Iron & Steel Workers	$50,650	670	+4.5%
15	Insulation Workers	$49,150	560	+5.2%
16	Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$49,120	7,600	+8.2%
17	Carpenters	$48,910	7,070	+5.2%
18	Operating Engineers (Heavy Equipment)	$47,480	8,430	+4.1%
19	Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers	$47,430	1,770	+8.1%
20	Reinforcing Iron & Rebar Workers	$47,050	90	+5.2%
21	Maintenance & Repair Workers	$46,800	27,820	+8.1%
22	Sheet Metal Workers	$46,080	1,460	+5.2%
23	Automotive Service Technicians	$45,950	13,950	+8%
24	Drywall Installers	$44,670	570	+5%
25	Pipelayers	$44,480	530	+8.5%
26	Painters (Construction & Maintenance)	$42,950	2,060	+5.5%
27	Helpers — Installation, Maintenance & Repair	$39,080	1,550	+8.5%
28	Helpers — Pipelayers, Plumbers & Pipefitters	$38,140	990	+8.5%
29	Helpers — Electricians	$38,050	1,880	+8.4%

Explore Trades in South Carolina