Do automotive service technicians need a license in South Carolina?

No statewide license is required for automotive service technicians in South Carolina. Most employers expect industry certifications such as ASE or OEM certification.

How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in South Carolina (2026)

Q: How long does automotive service technician training take in South Carolina?

Most people become an Automotive Service Technician in South Carolina through a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship.

Q: How much do automotive service technicians earn in South Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), automotive service technicians in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,100. Employment concentration in South Carolina is about 1.29 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for automotive service technicians in South Carolina?

South Carolina currently employs approximately 13,420 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina automotive service technicians and mechanics earn a median annual wage of $48,100 ($23.12/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 13,420 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.0% below the national median of $50,620 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,100 ($23.12/hr)
25th percentile: $37,430 per year
75th percentile: $63,610 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $78,030 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,200 per year
Workers employed in South Carolina: 13,420
Versus national median: -5.0% below the U.S. median of $50,620
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.29 - this occupation is more concentrated in South Carolina than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

South Carolina employs about 13,420 automotive service technicians earning a median $48,100 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Automotive Service Technician here means completing a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship.

Compare Automotive Service Technician Schools in South Carolina

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Central Piedmont Community College	52.6	$2,792 in-state / $8,936 out-of-state	$48,441	31%	Yes*	103 mi
2	Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College	51.5	$5,210 in-state / $8,354 out-of-state	$53,084	32%	Yes*	14 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	Trident Technical College	50.6	$4,546 in-state / $8,620 out-of-state	$58,783	30%	Yes*	69 mi
4	Ogeechee Technical College	50.1	$3,388 in-state / $5,956 out-of-state	$40,635	43%	Yes*	111 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Piedmont Technical College	45.7	$4,775 in-state / $6,923 out-of-state	$44,555	33%	Yes*	85 mi
6	Augusta Technical College	45.4	$4,282 in-state / $7,492 out-of-state	$43,469	31%	Yes*	78 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	South Piedmont Community College	45.0	$2,022 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state	$46,657	38%	Yes*	93 mi
8	Central Carolina Technical College	43.9	$5,715 in-state / $9,016 out-of-state	$45,876	34%	Yes*	26 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Midlands Technical College	41.9	$5,100 in-state / $14,700 out-of-state	$46,832	18%	Yes*	26 mi
10	Williamsburg Technical College	41.4	$4,488 in-state / $8,592 out-of-state	Not reported	15%	Yes*	54 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

South Carolina employs approximately 13,420 automotive service technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,100 ¹. The state’s concentration of automotive service technician jobs is 1.29x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, automotive service technician employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 70,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Automotive Service Technician in South Carolina, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade-school or community-college program in the specialty (find programs)
Typical timeline: a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship
Exam: ASE or OEM certification
Median wage (South Carolina): $48,100 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in South Carolina

How to become an Automotive Service Technician in South Carolina? Complete a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in South Carolina? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect ASE or OEM certification. See the licensing section below.

What do automotive service technicians earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for automotive service technicians in South Carolina is $48,100 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $78,030 or more ¹.

How to Become an Automotive Service Technician in South Carolina

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a specialty program. Finish an automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program. Some union shops use apprenticeships; the default national path is a certificate plus ASE, not DAS as the only option.
Earn ASE or OEM credentials. Pass ASE tests or OEM training the employer requires. Some states add a separate smog or emissions credential; it is not the whole mechanic license.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Automotive Service Technician License Requirements in South Carolina

Most states do not license auto, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision techs as a statewide journeyman card. Employers expect ASE or OEM credentials. Some states add a smog or emissions credential.

Typical path

Complete a specialty program.
Earn ASE or OEM credentials.
Add a state smog or emissions credential only if that state and the job require one.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Automotive Service Technician Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), automotive service technicians and mechanics 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	7,990	$53,660	$57,990	$34,470	$88,130
Charleston-North Charleston	2,510	$49,120	$54,140	$34,880	$79,480
Columbia	2,500	$48,080	$53,110	$31,680	$78,430
Greenville-Anderson-Greer	2,310	$48,120	$52,470	$32,810	$76,580
Augusta-Richmond County	1,260	$48,730	$52,950	$30,430	$78,720
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach	1,040	$45,360	$49,420	$30,430	$74,600
Spartanburg	970	$48,610	$52,870	$31,640	$77,180
Florence	600	$46,130	$49,890	$29,800	$76,810
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal	560	$50,920	$55,420	$31,220	$81,370
Sumter	190	$46,500	$50,920	$29,660	$76,050

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for automotive service technicians in South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 13,420 automotive service technicians ¹. Nationally, automotive service technician employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in South Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in South Carolina.

How much do automotive service technicians earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for automotive service technicians in South Carolina is $48,100, which is $1,570 below the national median of $49,670 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Carolina

Best Trade Schools in South Carolina (2026)

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)