Firefighter salary in South Carolina
Firefighters in South Carolina earn a median of $42,570 a year ($20.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,150 for the top 10%. That is 28% lower than the national median of $59,280. South Carolina ranks 42nd of 50 states for firefighters pay. There are 3.4 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $43,900, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,130 | $14.01 |
| 25th percentile | $34,510 | $16.59 |
| Median | $42,570 | $20.47 |
| 75th percentile | $49,570 | $23.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,150 | $29.88 |
| Average (mean) | $43,900 | $21.11 |
Half of firefighters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,547.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,773.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,637.31 |
| Weekly | $818.65 |
| Hourly | $20.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in cities in South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $50,210 | 640 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $47,540 | 510 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,830 | 1,470 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,890 | 820 |
| Sumter, SC | $43,890 | 90 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,980 | 1,290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,700 | 4,700 |
| Columbia, SC | $36,960 | 1,060 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $36,360 | 620 |
| Florence, SC | $32,570 | 340 |
Highest-paying states for firefighters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 |
| Colorado | $74,170 |
| Maryland | $73,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 |
Related jobs in South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Inspectors and Investigators | $61,890 | $29.76 |
| Security Guard | $35,460 | $17.05 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $47,890 | $23.02 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $26,210 | $12.60 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $73,700 | $35.43 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $62,760 | $30.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $65,160 | $31.33 |
| School Bus Monitor | $26,240 | $12.62 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $32,690 | $15.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $47,100 | $22.65 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $51,530 | $24.78 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $63,130 | $30.35 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $77,110 | $37.07 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in South Carolina
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in South Carolina?
The median salary for firefighters in South Carolina is $42,570 a year, or $20.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,150 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of firefighters in South Carolina earn at least $62,150 a year. The top 25% earn $49,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,130 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $34,510 or less.
How many firefighters work in South Carolina?
About 7,780 firefighters are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.