Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers Salary
The median pay for a jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in South Carolina is $60,380/year ($29.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $64,806 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 31.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $60K get you in South Carolina?
About jewelers and precious stone and metal workers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
South Carolina sits well above the national pay line for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $53K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.4% 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 jewelers and precious stone and metal workers (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track jewelers and precious stone and metal workers 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 jewelers and precious stone and metal worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 31.4% 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 $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new jewelers and precious stone and metal workers typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,391/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 53% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is jewelers and precious stone and metal worker a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $60K here vs. $53K nationally.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for jewelers and precious stone and metal workers?
South Carolina pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do jewelers and precious stone and metal workers make in South Carolina?
The median is $60,380 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,850, and experienced jewelers and precious stone and metal workers can clear $74,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,026/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 31.4% 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 jewelers and precious stone and metal workers 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 jewelers and precious stone and metal workers salary is worth about $64,806 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do jewelers and precious stone and metal workers 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.