The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce expects the number of jobs for electricians to increase by more than 14% during the ten-year period ending in 2024.
A substantial increase in construction employment drives the need for electricians in South Carolina. The construction industry in South Carolina added 1,200 jobs during May 2016. Unlike previous years when most consumers remodeled their homes, new construction fueled housing demand in 2015 according to economists at the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business.
In addition, the massive growth in retail trade jobs has benefitted nonresidential construction. Major gains in construction took place in four of South Carolina’s cities:
- Spartanburg—39.4% increase
- Greenville—37.5% increase
- Columbia—16.9% increase
- Augusta—16.4% increase
A large number of high-profile construction projects that will provide opportunities for electricians were underway in South Carolina during the first half of 2016. Greenville Online described how Clemson University’s “biggest-ever” construction project is underway at its campus. The $212.7 Douthit Hills project will provide homes for more than 1,600 students in addition to providing a number of other amenities such as a student center, bookstore, and restaurants among others.
The Economic Development Blog described a number of sizable construction projects in South Carolina including the largest investment project in state history. Known as Project 1429, an unknown company plants to invest $1.6 billion to establish a renewable diesel facility in Chester County.
Other major projects during this period include:
- A new 360,000-square foot campus to become the world headquarters for Blackbaud, Inc in Berkeley County
- Viva Holdings Group selected a site in St. Stephen, Berkeley County, for a $28 million new integrated manufacturing plant
- ChartSpan Medical Technologies announced plans to invest $3.2 million to set up clinical support operations at a new location in downtown Greenville
Salaries for Residential Electricians in Urban and Rural South Carolina
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides the range of salaries earned by electricians throughout South Carolina. Highly skilled master electricians can expect to earn salaries at the highest end of these ranges (2015):
Salaries for Specialty Electricians Throughout South Carolina
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides salaries for a number of different types of specialized electricians that work in a number of South Carolina’s cities (2015). Those with the most education and experience tend to earn salaries at the upper end of the ranges shown here:
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers:
- Charleston-North Charleston: $50,200 – $73,970
- Columbia: $49,180 – $74,410
- Florence: $59,120 – $81,520
- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin: $57,780 – $78,320
- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach: $60,120 – $78,640
- Sumter: $44,050 – $67,510
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Commercial and Industrial Equipment:
- Charleston-North Charleston: $53,620 – $63,140
- Columbia: $55,220 – $64,650
- Florence: $68,720 – $95,320
- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin: $51,360 – $64,050
- Spartanburg: $59,050 – $95,180
Electrical and Electronics Repairers Specializing in Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay:
- Charleston-North Charleston: $66,870 – $70,770
- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach: $75,100 – $96,920
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers Specializing in Motor Vehicles:
- Columbia: $34,740 – $38,890
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers:
- Charleston-North Charleston: $37,900 – $59,790
- Columbia: $30,830 – $47,620
- Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin: $36,800 – $56,320
- Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach: $37,550 – $48,040
The statewide average for electricians in these specialized roles is shown in the table below:
Salaries for Electrician Apprentices in South Carolina’s Major Cities and Rural Northern South Carolina
The Myrtle Beach area had the 10th highest concentration of jobs for electrician apprentices in the country as of 2015 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This agency provides salary data for the occupational classification for “Electrician’s Helpers” in South Carolina’s four largest cities and rural North Northeastern South Carolina. Shown below is information that represents the wages earned during an electrical apprenticeship: