Independent salary reference. Not affiliated with BLS, IBEW, NECA, or any electrical contractor. All wage figures cite the source; individual earnings vary by employer, certifications, and market.
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BLS OEWS May 2025

Electrician Salary in South Carolina 2026

Updated 22 June 2026

$58,740/yr median · $28.24/hr

State Median

$59k

vs. National

$4k

Top 10%

$78k

COL-Adjusted

$62k

Electrician Salary Range in South Carolina

The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in South Carolina, from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%. All three figures are reported directly by the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program (May 2025).

10th percentile

$44k

$44,330/yr

Lowest-paid 10%

Median (50th)

$59k

$58,740/yr

Typical electrician

90th percentile

$78k

$77,800/yr

Highest-paid 10%

$44,330$58,740 median$77,800

An electrician in the bottom 10% of South Carolina earners makes about $44,330/yr, while the top 10% earn $77,800/yr or more — a range of $33,470. The 10th-percentile figure is a real BLS wage observation (it typically reflects apprentices and newly-licensed journeymen), distinct from the modelled apprentice-entry estimate shown in the experience table below.

Where South Carolina Ranks

South Carolina ranks #43 nationally for electrician median wages. The national median is $63,190 (BLS OEWS May 2025). South Carolina pays $4,450 below the national average.

South Carolina's cost-of-living index is 94 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $62,489/yr in national-average dollar terms. The below-average cost of living means electricians here retain more purchasing power than the nominal wage suggests.

Pay by Metro Area

Estimated median pay for the top 5 metropolitan areas in South Carolina, modelled from the state median and regional cost differentials (not BLS metro estimates).

Metro AreaMedian Annualvs. State Avg
Charleston-North Charleston$60,800+2.1k
Columbia$58,800+0.1k
Greenville-Anderson$58,400-0.3k
Spartanburg$57,600-1.1k
Myrtle Beach$52,000-6.7k

Pay by Experience Level

LevelHourlyAnnual
Apprentice (Year 1)$13 - $17/hr$27,000 - $35,000
Apprentice (Year 4)$19 - $24/hr$39,000 - $50,000
Journeyman (Employee)$24 - $34/hr$50,000 - $71,000
Master Electrician (Employee)$30 - $43/hr$62,000 - $89,000
Self-Employed Contractor$65 - $130/hr billed$60,000 - $170,000 net

South Carolina Licensing Requirements

Licensing AuthoritySouth Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) - Contractors' Licensing Board. Journeyman and Master certifications are issued through the SC Mechanical Trades Certification Program, which transferred from the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) to Carolinas AGC (CAGC) effective January 1, 2026.
Journeyman RequirementSouth Carolina does not require a statewide journeyman electrician license. Journeyman certification via the Mechanical Trades Certification Program requires 4,000 hours of electrical trade experience (or 2,000 hours plus a two-year associate degree) and passing the PSI exam.
Master RequirementMaster Electrician certification through the same program; a separate electrical contractor license from the LLR Contractors' Licensing Board is required to run a business, bid work, or pull permits.
Fee$100 PSI exam fee (journeyman / master certification); contractor license fees are separate (LLR fee schedule)
ReciprocityLimited; South Carolina participates in a Southeastern states reciprocity compact (GA, NC, LA, MS, AL). Verify with LLR / CAGC.

See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing

Union Presence in South Carolina

IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 776 (Charleston / North Charleston, inside-construction jurisdiction covering most of South Carolina), Local 379 (Charlotte-based, Upstate: Greenville and Spartanburg, with a Williamston SC office), Local 772 (Columbia, outside line construction)

Union share: approximately 3-4% of electricians in South Carolina are union - South Carolina is a right-to-work state with the lowest overall union-membership rate of any US state.

Union electricians in South Carolina typically earn 20-35% more in total compensation than non-union electricians, when wages, health insurance, pension, and annuity are included.

Full IBEW wage scale breakdown and union vs non-union analysis

Job Outlook in South Carolina

South Carolina has one of the strongest industrial electrical demand profiles in the Southeast. BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg (the largest BMW plant in the world) is investing billions in electric-vehicle and high-voltage battery production. Boeing South Carolina assembles the 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston. Scout Motors is building a roughly $2 billion electric-vehicle plant in Blythewood near Columbia, and Volvo Cars (Ridgeville) and Redwood Materials (Berkeley County) add further EV and battery electrical work. Port of Charleston expansion and utility grid modernization sustain long-term demand.

Major Employers in South Carolina

Dominion Energy South CarolinaSantee CooperBoeing South CarolinaBMW Manufacturing (Spartanburg)Duke Energy (Upstate)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do electricians make in South Carolina?
Electricians in South Carolina earn a median of $58,740/yr ($28.24/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025. Apprentices start at around $32,000/yr and top-earning master electricians and self-employed contractors can exceed $77,800/yr (these apprentice and top-end figures are estimates, not BLS).
What is the salary range for electricians in South Carolina?
BLS OEWS May 2025 puts the wage range at $44,330/yr (10th percentile, lowest-paid 10%) to $77,800/yr (90th percentile, highest-paid 10%), with a median of $58,740/yr — a spread of $33,470.
How does South Carolina rank for electrician pay?
South Carolina ranks #43 nationally for electrician median wages. After cost-of-living adjustment (MERIC index 94), the real purchasing power is $62,489/yr.
Do I need a license to work as an electrician in South Carolina?
South Carolina does not require a statewide journeyman electrician license. Journeyman certification via the Mechanical Trades Certification Program requires 4,000 hours of electrical trade experience (or 2,000 hours plus a two-year associate degree) and passing the PSI exam.. For master level: Master Electrician certification through the same program; a separate electrical contractor license from the LLR Contractors' Licensing Board is required to run a business, bid work, or pull permits..
Are union electricians better paid in South Carolina?
Yes. IBEW Local 776 (Charleston / North Charleston, inside-construction jurisdiction covering most of South Carolina), Local 379 (Charlotte-based, Upstate: Greenville and Spartanburg, with a Williamston SC office), Local 772 (Columbia, outside line construction) operate in South Carolina, with approximately 3-4% of electricians in South Carolina are union - South Carolina is a right-to-work state with the lowest overall union-membership rate of any US state. Union electricians earn 20-35% more in total compensation when wages, health insurance, pension, and annuity are included.
What is the job outlook for electricians in South Carolina?
South Carolina has one of the strongest industrial electrical demand profiles in the Southeast. BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg (the largest BMW plant in the world) is investing billions in electric-vehicle and high-voltage battery production. Boeing South Carolina assembles the 787 Dreamliner in North Charleston. Scout Motors is building a roughly $2 billion electric-vehicle plant in Blythewood near Columbia, and Volvo Cars (Ridgeville) and Redwood Materials (Berkeley County) add further EV and battery electrical work. Port of Charleston expansion and utility grid modernization sustain long-term demand.

Related Pages

All StatesLicensing RequirementsJourneyman SalaryMaster Electrician SalaryUnion vs Non-Union

State 10th-percentile, median, and 90th-percentile (top 10%) wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (47-2111). COL index: MERIC 2026. Metro, apprentice, and contractor figures are modelled estimates (not BLS). IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.

Updated 2026-04-27