Chemical Technicians Salary
Chemical Technicians in South Carolina make a median of $75,020 a year, or about $36.07 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $80,519 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 chemical technicians
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What this looks like in South Carolina
South Carolina sits well above the national pay line for chemical technicians, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level chemical technicians (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Chemical Technicians salary by metro in South Carolina
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $65K | -14% | 250 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $63K | -16% | 330 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $61K | -18% | 290 |
| Spartanburg | $55K | -26% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track chemical 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 chemical 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 chemical technicians in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical technicians typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,932/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemical technician a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $75K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for chemical technicians?
South Carolina pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +24%. 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 chemical technicians make in South Carolina?
The median is $75,020 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,860, and experienced chemical technicians can clear $81,820. 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 $4,832/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 chemical 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 chemical technicians salary is worth about $80,519 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical 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.