Mechanical Engineers in South Carolina. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Mechanical Engineers in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of $105,360 in 2024, just above the national median of $104,651. The gap is small, less than 1%, so this is essentially a match to the US figure rather than a standout in either direction.
The range across earners is where the picture gets more interesting. The 10th percentile sits at $67,210, the 90th at $148,720. Top earners in the state make a little over twice what the lowest-paid do. That spread is typical for an engineering occupation where experience, specialization, and sector all push pay in different directions.
South Carolina's cost of living runs about 3.4% below the national average, based on a BEA Regional Price Parity index of 96.6. In practical terms, the median wage here buys slightly more than the same dollar figure would in an average-cost state. After accounting for that, the state's position relative to the national median improves a bit.
BLS projects employment for Mechanical Engineers to grow 9% from 2024 to 2034, which falls in the "faster than average" category. South Carolina has a sizable manufacturing and aerospace base, and both sectors draw heavily on mechanical engineering talent. That gives some context for why employment here, at 5,060 jobs, is meaningful for a state of this size.
Salary distribution
Where South Carolina mechanical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $84,810 and $133,480, with a median of $104,580.
Mechanical Engineers in South Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 169 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $95,000. 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 | 23 | $71,133 |
| Level II — qualified | 83 | $88,800 |
| Level III — experienced | 39 | $105,352 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 21 | $122,574 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Mechanical Engineers in South Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZF Transmissions Gray Court, LLC | Manufacturing Engineer III | 8 | $87,890 |
| ES Foundry Corp | Equipment Engineer II | 6 | $77,050 |
| The Boeing Company | Wire Design & Installation Engineer | 6 | $113,013 |
| GE VERNOVA INTERNATIONAL LLC | ENGINEER - MECHANICAL COMPONENT | 5 | $119,475 |
| Schaeffler Special Machinery LLC | Engineer “ Mechanical Design | 5 | $97,605 |
| Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc. | SENIOR CERTIFICATION SPECIALIST | 4 | $127,168 |
| Techtronic Cordless GP | Engineering Manager | 4 | $111,880 |
| Continental Tire The Americas, LLC | Development Engineer - KBGFJG242373-5 | 3 | $129,540 |
| Cummins Inc. | Manufacturing Shop Operations Team Manager | 3 | $125,923 |
| HC FORKLIFT AMERICA CORPORATION | HC FORKLIFT AMERICA CORPORATION | 3 | $80,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- FEA Engineer 4 at H10 Seattle, LLC$145,000GreenvilleWage Level IIIDecided Mar 26, 2026I-200-26078-716657
- Applications Engineer - Structural FEA at KETIV Technologies of California Inc$99,944CAYCEWage Level IIIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-709298
- Equipment & Tool Engineer at The Boeing Company$109,172North CharlestonWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-686231
- PLM Solutions Architect at Techtronic Cordless GP$139,385AndersonWage Level IVDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26065-685924
- Mechanical Engineer at Itron Inc.$92,193West UnionWage Level IIDecided Mar 3, 2026I-200-26055-660535
- LEAD ENGINEER - ACOUSTICS - ENVIRONMENTAL at GE VERNOVA INTERNATIONAL LLC$125,400GREENVILLEWage Level IIIDecided Mar 3, 2026I-200-26055-662088
- Engineering II - Manufacturing at ZF Transmissions Gray Court, LLC$88,130Gray CourtWage Level IIDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-608293
- Project Engineer at Techtronic Cordless GP$92,900AndersonWage Level IIDecided Feb 5, 2026I-200-26029-602268
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.
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Mechanical 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.
Mechanical Engineers specialties in South Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 73 certified offers. The most common variant is Mechanical Engineer at a median of $87,360.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineer | L&T Technology Services Limited | 21 | $87,360 |
| Design Engineer | MEKRA Lang North America, LLC | 7 | $95,000 |
| Product Engineer | OneH2, Inc. | 7 | $85,000 |
| Project Engineer | Techtronic Cordless GP | 6 | $94,950 |
| Senior Engineer | Hinduja Tech Inc. | 6 | $75,567 |
| Equipment Engineer | ES Foundry Corp | 5 | $75,600 |
| Manufacturing Engineer | ZF Transmissions Gray Court, LLC | 4 | $89,375 |
| Mechanical Design Engineer | COMEDS GLOBAL LLC | 4 | $89,837 |
| Development Engineer | GE PRECISION HEALTHCARE LLC | 4 | $102,287 |
| Engineer “ Mechanical Design | Schaeffler Special Machinery LLC | 3 | $97,605 |
| Process Engineer | Benteler Automotive Corporation | 3 | $80,226 |
| Development Engineer - KBGFJG242373-5 | Continental Tire The Americas, LLC | 3 | $129,540 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Mechanical Engineers in South Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 166 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Manufacturing leads with a median of $97,605.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | ZF Transmissions Gray Court, LLC | 121 | $97,605 |
| Professional services | GE VERNOVA INTERNATIONAL LLC | 28 | $89,500 |
| Retail and wholesale | HC FORKLIFT AMERICA CORPORATION | 7 | $80,000 |
| Technology and software | COMEDS GLOBAL LLC | 7 | $87,000 |
| Transportation and logistics | Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc. | 3 | $100,000 |
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 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Mechanical
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
- 02
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
- 03
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
- 04
Develop, coordinate, or monitor all aspects of production, including selection of manufacturing methods, fabrication, or operation of product designs.
- 05
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.
- 06
Develop or test models of alternate designs or processing methods to assess feasibility, sustainability, operating condition effects, potential new applications, or necessity of modification.
- 07
Recommend the use of utility or energy services that minimize carbon footprints.
- 08
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+9.0%
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 Mechanical Engineers in South Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Mechanical Engineers in South Carolina is $104,580.
- How does South Carolina compare to the national median for Mechanical Engineers?
- The South Carolina median is -2.8% versus the BLS national figure of $107,639.
- What is the salary range for Mechanical Engineers in South Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $74,260 and the 90th-percentile at $166,340, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Mechanical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 9.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Mechanical 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.