How to Become a Home Inspector in South Carolina (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | Brad Fishbein Reviewed by Brad Fishbein, Florida Licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA1408), Council-certified Microbial Investigator

South Carolina employs about 2,500 home inspectors earning a median $58,840 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Home Inspector here means completing a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Home Inspector 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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
155.0$3,524 in-state / $6,092 out-of-state$50,46932%Yes*191 mi
254.3$3,516 in-state / $6,084 out-of-state$47,00958%Yes*206 mi
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353.6$3,300 in-state / $5,868 out-of-state$44,49043%Yes*256 mi
451.3$3,980 in-state / $7,190 out-of-state$44,75434%Yes*178 mi
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551.0$3,410 in-state / $5,978 out-of-state$43,83535%Yes*255 mi
650.7$3,480 in-state / $6,048 out-of-state$40,58650%Yes*248 mi
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750.1$3,388 in-state / $5,956 out-of-state$40,63543%Yes*111 mi
848.8$3,330 in-state / $5,898 out-of-state$44,29342%Yes*120 mi
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947.9$3,382 in-state / $5,950 out-of-state$40,96449%Yes*210 mi
1046.8$3,380 in-state / $5,948 out-of-state$37,26565%Yes*131 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 2,500 home inspectors according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,840 1. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Home Inspector in South Carolina, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: home-inspector training program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary
  • Exam: state home-inspector exam where required; otherwise ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI
  • Median wage (South Carolina): $58,840 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Home Inspector in South Carolina

How to become a Home Inspector in South Carolina? Complete a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in South Carolina? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do home inspectors earn in South Carolina? The median annual wage for home inspectors in South Carolina is $58,840 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,140 and experienced professionals can earn $84,860 or more 1.

How to Become a Home Inspector in South Carolina

  1. Complete inspector training. Finish a home-inspector course. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Hour totals vary; confirm with the program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  2. Pass a state exam only where the state licenses inspectors. Some states require a home-inspector license; others do not. Confirm whether South Carolina licenses this occupation.
  3. Optional ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI credentials. Those credentials help hiring. They do not replace a state license in states that license the occupation.
  4. Confirm with a real board only. Do not treat a contractor class as the inspector credential. Confirm current rules with the employer.

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

Home Inspector License Requirements in South Carolina

Some states require a home-inspector license; others do not. Confirm whether South Carolina licenses this occupation. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary.

Typical path

  1. Complete a home-inspector course.

  2. Pass the state exam only in states that license home inspectors.

  3. Optional ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI credentials.

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

Home Inspector Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

Construction and Building Inspectors Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction and building inspectors wages in South Carolina vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia1,760$75,570$73,100$48,980$96,180
Greenville-Anderson-Greer600$45,700$52,560$36,130$80,440
Charleston-North Charleston460$60,140$62,250$37,590$85,930
Columbia450$62,410$62,140$35,970$84,110
Augusta-Richmond County190$58,890$61,790$40,170$83,850
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach170$59,600$61,080$43,880$81,740
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal120$56,160$59,240$40,100$82,970
Spartanburg90$63,340$69,970$44,690$102,730
Florence60$57,590$60,090$41,760$80,950

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 home inspectors in South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 2,500 home inspectors 1. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034 2.

Can I work as a home inspector in South Carolina with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

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 home inspectors earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home inspectors in South Carolina is $58,840, which is $13,280 below the national median of $72,120 according to BLS data 1.

In South Carolina

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in South Carolina

Citations

Brad Fishbein Licensed Mold Assessor

Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He is the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad helps homeowners and tradespeople make informed decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.

References

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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)