"How long does it take to become a gunsmith in South Carolina?"

"Most paths into the gunsmith field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for gunsmiths 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 Gunsmith in South Carolina

Q: "How much do gunsmiths earn in South Carolina?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), gunsmiths in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $57,480 (using the related \"Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other\" BLS category, since gunsmith wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in South Carolina is roughly 0.50 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

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

"South Carolina currently employs approximately 70 workers in the related \"Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other\" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other earn a median annual wage of $57,480 ($27.63/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 70 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -16.7% below the national median of $68,990 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $57,480 ($27.63/hr)
25th percentile: $51,960 per year
75th percentile: $79,080 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $112,560 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $46,380 per year
Workers employed in South Carolina: 70
Versus national median: -16.7% below the U.S. median of $68,990
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.50 - 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.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, South Carolina employs approximately 70 workers in the related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category (SOC 49-9069), with a median annual wage of $57,480 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a gunsmith in South Carolina, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track gunsmith salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other (SOC 49-9069). Actual gunsmith earnings may vary.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Gunsmith in South Carolina

How do I become a gunsmith in South Carolina? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for gunsmiths in South Carolina.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do gunsmiths earn in South Carolina? The BLS does not track gunsmith wages separately. Based on the related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category, the median annual wage in South Carolina is $57,480, with entry-level wages around $46,380 and experienced workers earning $112,560 or more ¹.

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): $57,480 per year (based on related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category) ¹

Gunsmith Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Note: The BLS does not track gunsmith wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other (SOC 49-9069).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other 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	70	$61,070	$63,950	$42,630	$100,670
Charleston-North Charleston	30	$54,300	$66,870	$54,300	$102,990

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 2025.

Top Metros for Gunsmiths in South Carolina

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest gunsmith employment within South Carolina according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Charleston-North Charleston	30	$54,300

Explore gunsmith programs in Charleston.

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for gunsmiths in South Carolina? South Carolina employs approximately 70 workers in the related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.0% 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 accredited programs in South Carolina.

How much do gunsmiths earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for gunsmiths in South Carolina is $57,480 (based on the related “Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other” category), which is $9,600 below the national median of $67,080 according to BLS data ¹.

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)