What apprenticeships are available for carpenters in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Apprenticeship South Carolina, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Carpenter in South Carolina (2026)

Q: How much do carpenters earn in South Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $50,670. Employment concentration in South Carolina is roughly 0.70 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for carpenters in South Carolina?

South Carolina currently employs approximately 6,950 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Q: What is the federal prevailing wage for carpenters in South Carolina?

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in South Carolina earn a prevailing wage of approximately $14.46 per hour in base pay plus $0.78 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $15.24 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026).

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina carpenters earn a median annual wage of $50,670 ($24.36/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 6,950 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -16.4% below the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $50,670 ($24.36/hr)
25th percentile: $43,620 per year
75th percentile: $62,610 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $79,040 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,010 per year
Workers employed in South Carolina: 6,950
Versus national median: -16.4% below the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.70 - this occupation is less concentrated in South Carolina than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

South Carolina employs about 6,950 carpenters earning a median $50,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most carpenters train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in South Carolina.

Compare Carpenter 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	Cape Fear Community College	57.9	$2,748 in-state / $8,892 out-of-state	$48,346	34%	Yes*	152 mi
2	Coastal Pines Technical College	53.5	$3,268 in-state / $5,836 out-of-state	$42,956	48%	Yes*	180 mi
3	Ogeechee Technical College	50.1	$3,388 in-state / $5,956 out-of-state	$40,635	43%	Yes*	113 mi
4	Savannah Technical College	48.8	$3,330 in-state / $5,898 out-of-state	$44,293	42%	Yes*	86 mi
5	Oconee Fall Line Technical College	46.8	$3,380 in-state / $5,948 out-of-state	$37,265	65%	Yes*	170 mi
6	Central Georgia Technical College	46.5	$3,448 in-state / $6,016 out-of-state	$42,979	47%	Yes*	218 mi
7	Fayetteville Technical Community College	45.5	$2,628 in-state / $8,772 out-of-state	$48,138	24%	Yes*	168 mi
8	Augusta Technical College	45.4	$4,282 in-state / $7,492 out-of-state	$43,469	31%	Yes*	130 mi
9	York Technical College	40.4	$8,036 in-state / $13,340 out-of-state	$47,738	30%	—	161 mi
10	Bladen Community College	35.7	$2,618 in-state / $8,762 out-of-state	$46,043	23%	Yes*	146 mi

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 6,950 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $50,670 ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 74,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Carpenter in South Carolina, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (South Carolina): $50,670 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Carpenter in South Carolina

How to become a Carpenter in South Carolina? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for carpenters in South Carolina.

How long does it take? Most paths into the carpenter field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do carpenters earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for carpenters in South Carolina is $50,670 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,010 and experienced professionals can earn $79,040 or more ¹.

How to Become a Carpenter in South Carolina

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most South Carolina training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in South Carolina that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to carpenters in South Carolina before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Carpenter Apprenticeship Information in South Carolina

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. South Carolina’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Apprenticeship South Carolina ³.

Contact Information:

Office: SC Technical College System - Apprenticeship Carolina
Address: 111 Executive Center Drive, Columbia, SC 29201-2496
Phone: (803) 765-5548

Federal Prevailing Wage in South Carolina

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in South Carolina earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent South Carolina general wage determinations show approximately $14.46 per hour in base pay plus $0.78 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $15.24 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁴.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within carpenter work.

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), carpenters 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	3,730	$50,960	$53,450	$38,240	$65,640
Greenville-Anderson-Greer	1,340	$50,090	$55,230	$35,460	$76,110
Charleston-North Charleston	1,240	$50,380	$54,750	$36,750	$78,730
Columbia	880	$48,070	$53,260	$36,390	$77,860
Augusta-Richmond County	830	$58,930	$57,870	$37,760	$74,850
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach	510	$47,750	$52,160	$36,760	$74,450
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal	440	$49,070	$55,160	$35,200	$81,150
Spartanburg	300	$51,750	$55,350	$37,270	$76,390
Florence	130	$49,250	$54,580	$33,600	$84,770
Sumter	70	$45,700	$47,910	$34,500	$70,400

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 carpenters in South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 6,950 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in South Carolina? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in South Carolina. You can also contact the Apprenticeship South Carolina for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in South Carolina is $50,670, which is $8,640 below the national median of $59,310 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Carolina

Best Trade Schools in South Carolina (2026)

Top local programs

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Apprenticeship South Carolina: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

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)