Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary
The median pay for a aircraft mechanics and service technicians in South Carolina is $75,160/year ($36.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $85K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $80,670 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 25.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $75K get you in South Carolina?
About aircraft mechanics and service technicians
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Aircraft mechanics and service technicians pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $75K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level aircraft mechanics and service technicians (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $85K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians salary by metro in South Carolina
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $82K | +9% | 380 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $81K | +8% | 510 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $77K | +2% | 60 |
| Columbia | $73K | -3% | 260 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $59K | -21% | 210 |
| Spartanburg | $50K | -33% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a aircraft mechanics and service technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 26.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for aircraft mechanics and service technicians in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new aircraft mechanics and service technicians typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,714/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is aircraft mechanics and service technician a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $75K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for aircraft mechanics and service technicians?
South Carolina pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do aircraft mechanics and service technicians make in South Carolina?
The median is $75,160 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,230, and experienced aircraft mechanics and service technicians can clear $84,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,840/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 26.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary go in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median aircraft mechanics and service technicians salary is worth about $80,670 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do aircraft mechanics and service technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.