SOC 17-2051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Civil Engineers — South Carolina
South Carolina · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Civil Engineers in South Carolina is $101,600 per year, close to the national median of $100,840 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Civil Engineers in South Carolina is $101,600 per year, close to the national median of $100,840 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $67,950 at the tenth percentile to more than $156,380 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $80,360 to $131,550.
The area has 7,180 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 3.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, South Carolina ranks 14th by median wage. Greenville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $102,830. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 85th of 713 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,950 | −32.6% |
| 25th | $80,360 | −20.3% |
| Median (50th) | $101,600 | +0.8% |
| 75th | $131,550 | +30.5% |
| 90th | $156,380 | +55.1% |
| Mean | $107,000 | +6.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville | $102,830 | 1,170 | |
| 2 | Charleston | $98,740 | 1,310 | |
| 3 | Florence | $94,630 | 140 | |
| 4 | Columbia | $94,520 | 1,070 | |
| 5 | Sumter | $94,110 | 40 | |
| 6 | Myrtle Beach | $90,150 | 120 | |
| 7 | Hilton Head Island | $83,420 | 50 | |
| 8 | Spartanburg | $79,400 | 170 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $101,600 goes as far as $108,431 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 7.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$101,600as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$108,431US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $101,600 a year, 0.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $67,950 to $156,380 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 7,180 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 14th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Greenville, at $102,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Civil Engineers in South Carolina?
The median annual wage is $101,600, or $48.85 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $100,840, so pay in South Carolina is 0.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in South Carolina earns more than $156,380 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $67,950 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Greenville, at $102,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 7,180 jobs in this occupation in South Carolina. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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