Highest-paying trades in South Carolina
Updated September 27, 2026
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay are the highest-paying skilled trade in South Carolina, with a median of $91,140 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 57 of the 77 trades ranked here pay more than the $46,490 median for all jobs in South Carolina.
All 77 trades by median pay in South Carolina
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay230 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $91,140$43.82/hr |
| 2 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers540 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $90,860$43.68/hr |
| 3 | Avionics technicians270 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $81,720$39.29/hr |
| 4 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers40 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $78,250$37.62/hr |
| 5 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers2,690 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $76,870$36.96/hr |
| 6 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,130 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $75,490$36.29/hr |
| 7 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians1,660 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $75,160$36.13/hr |
| 8 | Boilermakers−2% vs U.S. | $74,840$35.98/hr |
| 9 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators30 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $71,770$34.51/hr |
| 10 | Maintenance workers, machinery960 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $64,910$31.21/hr |
| 11 | Industrial machinery mechanics9,890 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $62,330$29.96/hr |
| 12 | Millwrights950 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $61,700$29.66/hr |
| 13 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers2,130 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,480$29.56/hr |
| 14 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers1,310 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $59,790$28.75/hr |
| 15 | Security and fire alarm systems installers1,050 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $59,710$28.71/hr |
| 16 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers60 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $59,460$28.59/hr |
| 17 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists3,360 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $59,330$28.53/hr |
| 18 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines2,830 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $59,180$28.45/hr |
| 19 | Construction and building inspectors2,500 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $58,840$28.29/hr |
| 20 | Electricians8,010 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $58,740$28.24/hr |
| 21 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other70 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $57,480$27.63/hr |
| 22 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers6,920 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $56,610$27.22/hr |
| 23 | Recreational vehicle service technicians230 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $56,490$27.16/hr |
| 24 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters5,770 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $53,940$25.93/hr |
| 25 | Automotive body and related repairers2,140 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $53,290$25.62/hr |
| 26 | Motorcycle mechanics220 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $52,160$25.08/hr |
| 27 | Riggers470 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $51,020$24.53/hr |
| 28 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door420 jobs · −32% vs U.S. | $50,800$24.42/hr |
| 29 | Structural iron and steel workers660 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $50,750$24.40/hr |
| 30 | Carpenters6,950 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $50,670$24.36/hr |
| 31 | Glaziers740 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $50,650$24.35/hr |
| 32 | Solar photovoltaic installers−5% vs U.S. | $50,490$24.27/hr |
| 33 | Insulation workers, mechanical630 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $50,440$24.25/hr |
| 34 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers7,380 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $49,980$24.03/hr |
| 35 | Sheet metal workers1,710 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $49,920$24.00/hr |
| 36 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles170 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $49,860$23.97/hr |
| 37 | Mechanical door repairers190 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $49,510$23.80/hr |
| 38 | Cement masons and concrete finishers1,930 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $49,360$23.73/hr |
| 39 | Commercial divers30 jobs · −33% vs U.S. | $49,260$23.68/hr |
| 40 | Hazardous materials removal workers870 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $49,170$23.64/hr |
| 41 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians620 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $49,080$23.60/hr |
| 42 | Brickmasons and blockmasons410 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $49,010$23.56/hr |
| 43 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators8,160 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $48,940$23.53/hr |
| 44 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles230 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $48,230$23.19/hr |
| 45 | Highway maintenance workers2,290 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $48,130$23.14/hr |
| 46 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics13,420 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $48,100$23.12/hr |
| 47 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers210 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $48,080$23.11/hr |
| 48 | Maintenance and repair workers, general28,020 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,880$23.02/hr |
| 49 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics660 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,510$22.84/hr |
| 50 | Home appliance repairers380 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $47,460$22.82/hr |
| 51 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers240 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $47,120$22.66/hr |
| 52 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall730 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $47,020$22.61/hr |
| 53 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators630 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $46,950$22.57/hr |
| 54 | Paperhangers50 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $46,800$22.50/hr |
| 55 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners640 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,660$22.44/hr |
| 56 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians260 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $46,640$22.42/hr |
| 57 | Locksmiths and safe repairers140 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $46,560$22.39/hr |
| 58 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other2,240 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,430$22.32/hr |
| 59 | Automotive glass installers and repairers440 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $46,180$22.20/hr |
| 60 | Medical equipment repairers800 jobs · −25% vs U.S. | $46,120$22.17/hr |
| 61 | Roofers850 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $45,760$22.00/hr |
| 62 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers340 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $45,340$21.80/hr |
| 63 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers480 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $45,180$21.72/hr |
| 64 | Pipelayers670 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $45,180$21.72/hr |
| 65 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners90 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $44,870$21.57/hr |
| 66 | Floor sanders and finishers60 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $44,310$21.30/hr |
| 67 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers40 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $44,120$21.21/hr |
| 68 | Tile and stone setters−22% vs U.S. | $43,510$20.92/hr |
| 69 | Construction laborers19,620 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $42,940$20.65/hr |
| 70 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers80 jobs · −30% vs U.S. | $41,020$19.72/hr |
| 71 | Painters, construction and maintenance2,080 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $40,840$19.64/hr |
| 72 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers680 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $39,060$18.78/hr |
| 73 | Fence erectors−21% vs U.S. | $37,960$18.25/hr |
| 74 | Refractory materials repairers, except brickmasons50 jobs · −38% vs U.S. | $37,870$18.21/hr |
| 75 | Bicycle repairers−17% vs U.S. | $35,530$17.08/hr |
| 76 | Tire repairers and changers1,920 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $35,040$16.85/hr |
| 77 | Carpet installers80 jobs · −33% vs U.S. | $33,810$16.25/hr |
Linked trades have full South Carolina pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in South Carolina, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a South Carolina median for 11 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in South Carolina?
- Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay, with a median of $91,140 a year ($43.82 an hour) in South Carolina, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in South Carolina?
- No trade has a median of $100,000 or more in South Carolina; the highest is electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay at $91,140. Top earners in many trades pass $100,000.
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in South Carolina?
- 57 of the 77 trades ranked here have a median above $46,490, the median for all occupations in South Carolina.
- Do trades pay more in South Carolina than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 7 of the 77 trades have a higher median in South Carolina than nationally. The biggest gap is radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers: $78,250, 23% above the U.S. median of $63,520.
- Which trade employs the most people in South Carolina?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 28,020 jobs and a median of $47,880 a year.