Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians in South Carolina make a median of $53,710 a year, or about $25.82 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $57,647 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 35.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in South Carolina?
About civil engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for civil engineering technologists and technicians in South Carolina runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.9% 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 civil engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in South Carolina
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $58K | +7% | 280 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $56K | +4% | 370 |
| Florence | $52K | -3% | 40 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $50K | -7% | 360 |
| Spartanburg | $48K | -10% | 60 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $46K | -15% | 110 |
Compare to other states
Track civil engineering technologists and 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 civil engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 34.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for civil engineering technologists and technicians in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new civil engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,461/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is civil engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $54K here vs. $65K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for civil engineering technologists and technicians?
South Carolina pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do civil engineering technologists and technicians make in South Carolina?
The median is $53,710 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,020, and experienced civil engineering technologists and technicians can clear $79,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,615/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 34.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a civil engineering technologists and 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 civil engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $57,647 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do civil engineering technologists and 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.