Quick answer: South Carolina employs about 7,780 firefighters (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state fire marshal or fire training academy. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Firefighter certification is issued at the state level, commonly against the NFPA standards, with certificates accredited through IFSAC or the Pro Board so they carry between agencies. The academic degree is separate: fire science programs generally follow the federal FESHE model curriculum and matter mainly for promotion rather than for initial hire.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state fire marshal or fire training academy that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 1 school within 4 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 1 of them carries a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Firefighters in South Carolina earn a median $42,570 per year, below the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | South Carolina | National | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $42,570 | $59,280 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 10th percentile | $29,130 | $34,910 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 25th percentile | $34,510 | $44,490 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 75th percentile | $49,570 | $77,250 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 90th percentile | $62,150 | $101,040 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Employment | 7,780 | 345,990 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Location quotient | 1.52 | 1.00 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected change (2024-34) | not published by state | 3.4% | BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 |
The South Carolina median of $42,570 sits below the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 1.52 puts South Carolina well above the national average, so the work is noticeably more common here than in the typical state. That usually means a deeper job market and more room to change employers without relocating (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island | $50,210 | 640 |
| Charleston | $46,830 | 1,470 |
| Myrtle Beach | $45,890 | 820 |
| Sumter | $43,890 | 90 |
| Greenville | $39,980 | 1,290 |
| Columbia | $36,960 | 1,060 |
| Spartanburg | $36,360 | 620 |
| Florence | $32,570 | 340 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Firefighting is hired municipally, so the relevant market is the metro area and its surrounding departments rather than the national picture.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), firefighters wages in South Carolina vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | 4,700 | $38,700 | $47,070 | $30,410 | $79,960 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | 1,470 | $46,830 | $47,480 | $30,800 | $64,120 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | 1,290 | $39,980 | $42,690 | $29,130 | $60,260 |
| Columbia | 1,060 | $36,960 | $40,280 | $29,460 | $49,240 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | 820 | $45,890 | $47,300 | $39,230 | $58,970 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | 640 | $50,210 | $52,020 | $36,810 | $75,100 |
| Spartanburg | 620 | $36,360 | $38,150 | $26,540 | $48,710 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | 510 | $47,540 | $48,820 | $33,210 | $77,950 |
| Florence | 340 | $32,570 | $34,860 | $23,200 | $45,470 |
| Sumter | 90 | $43,890 | $44,730 | $28,440 | $55,330 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Charleston * Columbia * Florence * Greenville * Hilton Head Island * Myrtle Beach * Spartanburg
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
The median annual wage for firefighters in South Carolina is $42,570, below the national median of $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $34,510 at the 25th percentile to $49,570 at the 75th.
South Carolina holds about 7,780 firefighter jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 345,990, and BLS projects about 27,100 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Firefighter certification is issued at the state level, commonly against the NFPA standards, with certificates accredited through IFSAC or the Pro Board so they carry between agencies. The academic degree is separate: fire science programs generally follow the federal FESHE model curriculum and matter mainly for promotion rather than for initial hire. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state fire marshal or fire training academy before you enroll in any program.
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state fire marshal or fire training academy.
Among South Carolina metro areas with published data, Hilton Head Island reports the highest median at $50,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
On pay, the state median of $42,570 sits below the national $59,280 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 1.52 means the occupation is more concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
