What the numbers say
The median Civil Engineer in South Carolina earned $99,680 in 2024, about 3.6% above the national median of $96,198. That is a modest premium, but it holds up well given that South Carolina's cost of living runs roughly 3.4% below the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the real advantage is closer to 7%.
The spread between the lowest and highest earners is wide. Engineers at the 10th percentile took home $64,480, while those at the 90th reached $155,050. Top earners make about 2.4 times what those at the entry level do. That kind of range usually reflects differences in job titles, years of experience, and the complexity of projects, from municipal drainage work at the lower end to large infrastructure or energy contracts further up.
South Carolina employed 7,460 Civil Engineers in 2024. BLS projects the occupation will grow 5% between 2024 and 2034, a rate BLS classifies as faster than average for all occupations. The state's ongoing highway expansion and port infrastructure investment are consistent with that outlook, though the wage data itself is what we measure here.
The mean annual wage of $104,430 runs about $4,750 above the median. A smaller group of senior engineers or those in specialized roles pulls the average above the midpoint, which is worth noting if you are benchmarking against a job offer that cites average rather than median figures.
Salary distribution
Where South Carolina civil engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,760 and $128,290, with a median of $99,680.
Civil Engineers in South Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 49 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $89,578. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 14 | $68,733 |
| Level II — qualified | 19 | $90,605 |
| Level III — experienced | 7 | $107,245 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 3 | $143,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Civil Engineers in South Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thompson Construction Group, Inc. | Project Manager | 8 | $93,678 |
| Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority | Project Engineer | 3 | $85,000 |
| HDR Engineering, Inc. | Solid Waste Project Manager | 2 | $113,506 |
| Stantec Consulting Services Inc. | Traffic Analyst | 2 | $82,202 |
| Techstudio LLC | Formwork Detailer | 2 | $85,052 |
| Fluor Enterprises, Inc. | Design Engineer IV | 2 | $122,366 |
| S&ME Inc. | Project Engineer I | 2 | $80,034 |
| Garver LLC | Structural Engineer | 2 | $66,000 |
| M. B. Kahn Services, LLC | Estimator | 1 | $101,000 |
| Southern Steel Engineers, LLC | Project Engineer | 1 | $67,101 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Estimator at M. B. Kahn Services, LLC$101,000ColumbiaDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-387451
- Project Engineer at Southern Steel Engineers, LLC$67,101LexingtonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-359264
- Associate Structural Engineer at UBC Technology Services, Inc.$166,400Fort MillWage Level IIIDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-323922
- Project Manager at Thompson Construction Group, Inc.$137,614GreenvilleWage Level IIDecided Sep 8, 2025I-200-25241-277847
- Solid Waste Project Manager at HDR Engineering, Inc.$147,014Fort MillWage Level IVDecided Aug 28, 2025I-200-25234-260234
- Project Engineer (Civil/Construction) at DPR Construction, A General Partnership$90,605TrentonWage Level IIDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-233583
- Traffic Analyst at Stantec Consulting Services Inc.$86,403North CharlestonWage Level IIDecided Aug 6, 2025I-200-25211-208961
- Senior Design Associate at Bunnell-Lammons Engineering, Inc$120,000SpartanburgWage Level IVDecided Jul 17, 2025I-200-25191-166622
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Civil Engineers pay by experience level in South Carolina
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Civil Engineers specialties in South Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 27 certified offers. The most common variant is Project Engineer at a median of $82,241.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Engineer | Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority | 10 | $82,241 |
| Structural Engineer | UBC Technology Services, Inc. | 4 | $126,423 |
| Project Manager | Thompson Construction Group, Inc. | 4 | $89,578 |
| Field Engineer/Scheduler | Thompson Construction Group, Inc. | 3 | $97,778 |
| Design Engineer | Fluor Enterprises, Inc. | 3 | $110,000 |
| Civil Engineer | Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. | 3 | $80,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Civil Engineers in South Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 31 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $84,115.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | HDR Engineering, Inc. | 23 | $84,115 |
| Energy and utilities | Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority | 3 | $85,000 |
| Manufacturing | SC Steel LLC | 3 | $105,000 |
| Finance and insurance | Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. | 1 | $101,000 |
| Technology and software | VisioStack Inc. | 1 | $104,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in South Carolina over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Building and Construction
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Direct engineering activities, ensuring compliance with environmental, safety, or other governmental regulations.
- 02
Test soils or materials to determine the adequacy and strength of foundations, concrete, asphalt, or steel.
- 03
Inspect project sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to design specifications and safety or sanitation standards.
- 04
Manage and direct the construction, operations, or maintenance activities at project site.
- 05
Compute load and grade requirements, water flow rates, or material stress factors to determine design specifications.
- 06
Plan and design transportation or hydraulic systems or structures, using computer-assisted design or drawing tools.
- 07
Provide technical advice to industrial or managerial personnel regarding design, construction, program modifications, or structural repairs.
- 08
Analyze survey reports, maps, drawings, blueprints, aerial photography, or other topographical or geologic data.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+5.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Civil Engineers in South Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Civil Engineers in South Carolina is $99,680.
- How does South Carolina compare to the national median for Civil Engineers?
- The South Carolina median is +3.6% versus the BLS national figure of $96,198.
- What is the salary range for Civil Engineers in South Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $64,480 and the 90th-percentile at $155,050, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Civil Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 5.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Civil Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.