Mechanical Engineers Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in South Carolina is $104,580/year ($50.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $112,246 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 19.1% 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 $105K get you in South Carolina?
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Mechanical engineers pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $105K locally vs. $104K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 19.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers salary by metro in South Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $120K | +15% | 60 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $111K | +6% | 940 |
| Spartanburg | $105K | +0% | 520 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $104K | -0% | 40 |
| Florence | $104K | -1% | 130 |
| Columbia | $102K | -2% | 450 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $102K | -3% | 1,800 |
| Sumter | $101K | -3% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track mechanical engineers 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 mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 19.7% 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 mechanical engineers in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,456/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $105K locally vs. $104K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for mechanical engineers?
South Carolina pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in South Carolina?
The median is $104,580 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,260, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $166,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,408/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 19.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineers 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 mechanical engineers salary is worth about $112,246 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineers 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.