SOC 49-3042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — Columbia
Columbia, SC · 7 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Columbia, SC is $59,180 a year, trailing the national median of $65,510 by 9.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Columbia, SC is $59,180 a year, trailing the national median of $65,510 by 9.7%. Half of workers earn between $48,900 and $63,950. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $43,540 and the ninetieth at $74,950.
The area has 480 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.08 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Charleston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $63,080. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 231st of 511 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,540 | −33.5% |
| 25th | $48,900 | −25.4% |
| Median (50th) | $59,180 | −9.7% |
| 75th | $63,950 | −2.4% |
| 90th | $74,950 | +14.4% |
| Mean | $58,010 | −11.4% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $63,080 | 470 | |
| 2 | Hilton Head Island | $60,880 | 70 | |
| 3 | Greenville | $60,440 | 360 | |
| 4 | Spartanburg | $58,990 | 270 | |
| 5 | Sumter | $57,660 | 50 | |
| 6 | Florence | $57,490 | 140 | |
| 7 | Myrtle Beach | $54,080 | 200 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbia run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $59,180 goes as far as $63,159 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$59,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,159US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $59,180 a year, 9.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,540 to $74,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 480 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $63,080.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines in Columbia, SC?
The median annual wage is $59,180, or $28.45 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 $65,510, so pay in Columbia, SC is 9.7% lower. 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 Columbia, SC earns more than $74,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,540 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 Charleston, at $63,080 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 480 jobs in this occupation in Columbia, SC. 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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