Carpenter Salary in South Carolina

$24/hr

Discover South Carolina carpenter hourly rates, annual salaries, career levels, credentials, industries, and factors affecting earning potential.

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What Carpenter Earns in South Carolina

Carpenters construct, install, and repair structures and fixtures, including framing, concrete forms, doors, windows, flooring, cabinets, and other wood components. CareerOneStop and BLS wage data show South Carolina carpenters earning $17.31 per hour at the 10th percentile, $24.36 at the median, and $38.00 at the 90th percentile. These figures correspond to $36,010, $50,670, and $79,040 annually. Actual pay varies with experience, specialization, location, employer, union status, overtime, and project type. South Carolina's metropolitan areas also show different wage distributions. Contractor licensing and residential specialty registration requirements can apply when a carpenter operates independently rather than working as an employee.

Hourly rates by level in South Carolina

Rates typically increase with experience, skills, and responsibility.

Apprentice · 0–2 yrs
$17.31–$20.97/hr
Journeyman · 4–8 yrs
$20.97–$30.10/hr
Master · 8+ yrs
$30.10–$38/hr

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Where do you stand?

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$/ hr

Use your base rate, not what you take home after overtime.

You're right around the middle

$28.00 is above roughly 46% of this market. The top quarter starts at $36.00, and the median sits at $29.00.

10th
$18
25th
$23
Median
$29
75th
$36
90th
$45
YOU · $28.00
Your percentile
46th
Among this market
Your annual · 40 hrs
$58,240
Before overtime and per diem
Gap to median
−$2,080
Below the median

Calculate pay with extra credentials

Pick your level, add certifications, select shift — the estimate updates live.

1Your level

2Certifications you hold

3Shift & work type

4Overtime & per diem

Weekly overtime hours8 hrs
Per diem (per day away)$0

An estimate, not an offer. Overtime is paid at time and a half past forty hours.

American RecruitsEstimate
Journeyman Carpenter
South Carolina · Day Shift
Base rate$25.54
+ South Carolina Carpenter Apprenticeship Completion$0.75
+ NCCER Carpentry Level 1$0.75
+ NCCER Carpentry Level 3$0.50
Effective hourly$27.54
Straight · 40 hrs$1,101
Overtime · 8 hrs @ 1.5×$330
Weekly gross$1,432
Annualised · 50 weeks
$71,591
8 OT hrs/week · South Carolina

Who pays the most in South Carolina

Specialized construction can offer different work environments and career opportunities.

01 / 06$24.36/hr

Commercial Construction

Commercial carpenters work on offices, retail properties, institutions, interiors, framing, fixtures, and larger building projects.

+ Larger projects
+ Specialized work
– Project deadlines
– Employer variation
02 / 06$24.36/hr

Residential Construction

Residential carpenters handle framing, remodeling, finish work, installations, repairs, and housing-related construction.

+ Broad job market
+ Varied specialties
– Starting wages
– Seasonal demand
03 / 06$24.36/hr

Industrial Construction

Industrial carpenters may work on structural components, concrete forms, equipment supports, and specialized construction environments.

+ Specialized skills
+ Complex projects
– Demanding conditions
– Travel requirements
04 / 06$24.36/hr

Institutional Construction

Institutional projects include schools, hospitals, public facilities, and other large structures requiring substantial construction and finish work.

+ Large projects
+ Stable sectors
– Strict schedules
– Site restrictions
05 / 06$24.36/hr

Heavy Construction

Heavy construction can involve structural carpentry, concrete forms, infrastructure projects, and other specialized construction activities.

+ Infrastructure work
+ Specialized experience
– Outdoor conditions
– Travel requirements
06 / 06$24.36/hr

Residential Specialty

South Carolina specifically recognizes carpentry as a residential specialty contractor classification for qualifying independent residential work.

+ Independent work
+ Defined trade scope
– Registration required
– Scope limitations

Which states pay carpenters the most

Median hourly across every state with a published guide for this trade. Cost of living is not netted out — compare take-home, not just the rate.

  1. 01Hawaii$41/hr
  2. 02Illinois$37.98/hr
  3. 03California$36.50/hr
  4. 04Massachusetts$36.16/hr
  5. 05Alaska$35.51/hr
  6. 06New York$34.77/hr
  7. 07Minnesota$31.22/hr
  8. 08Connecticut$30.80/hr
  9. 09New Jersey$30.77/hr
  10. 10Maryland$30.27/hr

What each certification is worth

Sorted by payback speed.

CertificationRate bumpExtra / yearCostPayback
NCCER Carpentry Level 2+$1$2,080$1905 weeks
Scaffold User/Competent Person (OSHA-aligned)+$1$2,080$2105 weeks
NCCER Carpentry Level 1+$0.75$1,560$1906 weeks
Fall Protection Competent Person (OSHA-aligned)+$0.75$1,560$1656 weeks
First Aid/CPR/AED+$0.25$520$707 weeks
OSHA 10-Hour Construction+$0.25$520$859 weeks
OSHA 30-Hour Construction+$0.50$1,040$1709 weeks

What overtime actually adds

Past forty hours the rate is time and a half. Built from the rate above. At $24.36/hr.

40 hr week
$974
No OT
50 hr week
$1,340
+$18,270/yr
60 hr week
$1,705
+$36,540/yr
70 hr week
$2,071
+$54,810/yr

Questions workers ask

Does South Carolina require a carpenter to hold a license?▾
An employee carpenter does not automatically need a contractor license simply because they perform carpentry work. Licensing and registration requirements apply when operating independently as a contractor.
Can carpenters register as residential specialty contractors in South Carolina?▾
Yes. South Carolina specifically lists carpentry as a residential specialty contractor classification covering rough and general carpentry on new and existing residential structures.
What does the South Carolina residential carpentry registration cover?▾
The carpentry classification covers installation, alteration, and repair of rough and general carpentry work, including accessories and related hardware used in residential construction.
Is an examination required for residential specialty contractor registration?▾
South Carolina states that an examination is not required for residential specialty contractor registration. Applicants still must meet the applicable application and experience requirements.
When is a South Carolina residential builder license relevant?▾
A residential builder license applies to businesses constructing, repairing, improving, or reimproving qualifying residential structures when the undertaking exceeds the state's applicable threshold.
Can a residential specialty carpenter build additions independently?▾
No. South Carolina states that a residential specialty contractor is not authorized to construct additions to residential structures without supervision by a residential builder or another appropriately licensed person or entity.
Does OSHA 30 make a South Carolina carpenter certified?▾
No. OSHA 30 is Outreach Training that provides a course completion card. OSHA specifically states that an Outreach card is not an OSHA certification or license.
Does South Carolina have a statewide prevailing wage for carpenters?▾
South Carolina does not provide a statewide carpenter prevailing wage schedule comparable to California's public works system, so published occupational wage data should not be presented as a prevailing wage.
Are carpenter wages different across South Carolina?▾
Yes. BLS wage estimates vary by metropolitan area, with published differences between areas such as Charleston, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, and Augusta-Richmond County.

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CareerOneStop and BLS May 2025 wage data show South Carolina carpenters earning $17.31 per hour at the 10th percentile, $24.36 at the median, and $38.00 at the 90th percentile.

Last updated October 1, 2026. Rates are market estimates, not guarantees.