Salaries › Heavy Equipment Operator › South Carolina
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in South Carolina (2026)
$23.53 per hour · take-home ≈ $39,724/year ($3,310/month) for a single filer
Heavy Equipment Operator pay range in South Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $38,720 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $44,960 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $48,940 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $57,780 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $64,330 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 8,160 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in South Carolina (occupation code 47-2073, “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Carolina
A median Heavy Equipment Operator salary of $48,940 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus South Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $39,724 — an effective tax rate of 18.8%.
| Gross (median) | $48,940 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,693 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,744 |
| South Carolina state income tax | −$1,779 |
| Take-home (annual) | $39,724 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,310 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free South Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Heavy Equipment Operator make in South Carolina?
- The median Heavy Equipment Operator salary in South Carolina is $48,940 per year ($23.53 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $44,960 and $57,780.
- What is the take-home pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator in South Carolina?
- On the median salary of $48,940, a single filer in South Carolina takes home about $39,724 per year ($3,310 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.8%.
- How many Heavy Equipment Operator jobs are there in South Carolina?
- BLS counts 8,160 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in South Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Heavy Equipment Operators
Other salaries in South Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified South Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for South Carolina.