What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers 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 Construction Trades Worker in South Carolina (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in South Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $42,940. Employment concentration in South Carolina is about 1.21 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in South Carolina?

South Carolina currently employs approximately 19,620 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina construction laborers earn a median annual wage of $42,940 ($20.65/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 19,620 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -8.9% below the national median of $47,120 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $42,940 ($20.65/hr)
25th percentile: $36,680 per year
75th percentile: $49,120 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $63,370 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,200 per year
Workers employed in South Carolina: 19,620
Versus national median: -8.9% below the U.S. median of $47,120
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.21 - this occupation is more 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 19,620 construction trades workers earning a median $42,940 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in South Carolina.

Compare Construction Trades Worker 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	Trident Technical College	50.6	$4,546 in-state / $8,620 out-of-state	$58,783	30%	Yes*	69 mi
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3	Horry-Georgetown Technical College	50.3	$4,468 in-state / $8,836 out-of-state	$46,000	38%	Yes*	100 mi
4	Piedmont Technical College	45.7	$4,775 in-state / $6,923 out-of-state	$44,555	33%	Yes*	85 mi
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5	South Piedmont Community College	45.0	$2,022 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state	$46,657	38%	Yes*	93 mi
6	Midlands Technical College	41.9	$5,100 in-state / $14,700 out-of-state	$46,832	18%	Yes*	26 mi
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7	Williamsburg Technical College	41.4	$4,488 in-state / $8,592 out-of-state	Not reported	15%	Yes*	54 mi
8	York Technical College	40.4	$8,036 in-state / $13,340 out-of-state	$47,738	30%	—	84 mi
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9	Northeastern Technical College	35.2	$5,664 in-state / $6,024 out-of-state	$36,017	21%	—	81 mi
10	Technical College of the Lowcountry	27.4	$6,156 in-state / $11,916 out-of-state	$47,361	18%	Yes*	91 mi
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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 19,620 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $42,940 ¹. The state’s concentration of construction trades worker jobs is 1.21x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker 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): $42,940 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in South Carolina

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in South Carolina? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in South Carolina.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker 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 construction trades workers earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in South Carolina is $42,940 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,200 and experienced professionals can earn $63,370 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker 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 construction trades workers 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.

Construction Trades Worker 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

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers 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	10,840	$45,850	$46,150	$29,730	$61,990
Charleston-North Charleston	3,710	$43,630	$46,260	$31,190	$64,920
Greenville-Anderson-Greer	3,250	$44,380	$45,970	$33,280	$64,230
Columbia	2,610	$42,630	$44,910	$30,300	$62,420
Augusta-Richmond County	1,630	$38,730	$42,720	$27,560	$58,850
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach	1,440	$38,210	$43,290	$31,330	$61,550
Spartanburg	1,310	$42,210	$45,380	$34,120	$62,730
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal	910	$45,750	$48,110	$35,670	$68,600
Florence	650	$45,230	$45,490	$31,610	$59,320
Sumter	390	$38,650	$40,460	$29,510	$57,680

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 construction trades workers in South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 19,620 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% 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 construction trades workers earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in South Carolina is $42,940, which is $3,790 below the national median of $46,730 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/ ↩︎

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)