Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Salary
The median pay for a plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in South Carolina is $53,940/year ($25.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $57,894 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 35.6% 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in South Carolina runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,263/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.8% 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salary by metro in South Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $57K | +6% | 960 |
| Florence | $56K | +4% | 190 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $55K | +2% | 210 |
| Spartanburg | $53K | -2% | 310 |
| Columbia | $52K | -3% | 1,060 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $51K | -6% | 960 |
| Sumter | $51K | -6% | 80 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $48K | -10% | 460 |
Compare to other states
Track plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 34.8% 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,260/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitter a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $54K here vs. $64K 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters?
South Carolina pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters make in South Carolina?
The median is $53,940 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,660, and experienced plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can clear $75,780. 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 $3,630/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 34.8% 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters 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 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters salary is worth about $57,894 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters 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.