Electrician in South Carolina

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for SC. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$58,260

trending_down -6.6% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, South Carolina.

engineering

7,830

Jobs (SC)

monitoring Surging

+9.5%

10-yr job growth

payments

$235

Licensing fees

schedule

2 years (for journeyman experience)

Time to complete

route How to become an electrician in South Carolina

To become a certified electrician in South Carolina, individuals must obtain certifications through the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) for journeyman and master levels, or a contractor's license through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation (LLR), Contractors' Licensing Board. Journeyman certification typically requires 4,000 hours of electrical work experience and passing an exam. Electrical contractors must pass both a technical exam and a business management and law exam, and may need to provide a surety bond. Reciprocity agreements exist for electrical contractor licenses with certain states.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $39,910

25th percentile $47,200

50th (median) $58,260

75th percentile $65,010

90th (experienced) $76,230

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for South Carolina. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist South Carolina requirements

Licensing body	South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), Contractors' Licensing Board (for Electrical Contractors) and Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) (for Journeyman and Master Electrician Certifications)
State license	Required
Education	Not specified for journeyman, but a two-year associate degree can substitute for 2,000 hours of experience.
Experience	4,000.0 hours
Exam	Journeyman Electrician Certification Exam (for journeyman), Master Electrician Certification Exam (for master), Electrical Contractor Examination and Business Management and Law Exam (for contractors) ($100)
Application fee	$135
Renewal	Every 1.0 year
Continuing education	8.0 hours per cycle
Notes	South Carolina does not issue a single statewide electrician license. Journeyman and Master Electrician certifications are issued by the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC). Electrical Contractor licenses are issued by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation (LLR), Contractors' Licensing Board. Residential Electrician licenses are issued by the South Carolina Residential Builders Commission. Journeyman certification requires 4,000 hours of electrical trade work experience, or 2,000 hours with a two-year associate degree. Master Electrician certification requires four years (8,000 hours) of experience as a certified journeyman electrician. Electrical contractors must also pass a Business Management and Law exam and may need a surety bond of $10,000. Residential electrical work exceeding $500 requires a license, and commercial electrical work exceeding $10,000 requires a contractor's license.

Source: South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), Contractors' Licensing Board (for Electrical Contractors) and Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) (for Journeyman and Master Electrician Certifications)

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+9.5%

Much faster than average

Annual openings

81,000

Nationwide per year

Total employment

818,700

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

verified Low exposure -0.78/1.00

This career has low exposure to AI automation. Most tasks require physical presence, human judgment, or hands-on skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

check_circleSouth Carolina license required — clearer credential signal to employers
check_circleStrong 10-year job growth (+9.5%)
check_circleLow AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if an electrician career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the steps to becoming an electrician in South Carolina? expand_more

In South Carolina, becoming an electrician requires you to complete the required education (Not specified for journeyman, but a two-year associate degree can substitute for 2,000 hours of experience.), gain 4,000.0 hours of supervised experience, pass the Journeyman Electrician Certification Exam (for journeyman), Master Electrician Certification Exam (for master), Electrical Contractor Examination and Business Management and Law Exam (for contractors), and submit your application ($135 fee).

Does South Carolina require electrician licensure? expand_more

A state license is required in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), Contractors' Licensing Board (for Electrical Contractors) and Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) (for Journeyman and Master Electrician Certifications) handles electrician licensing — the Journeyman Electrician Certification Exam (for journeyman), Master Electrician Certification Exam (for master), Electrical Contractor Examination and Business Management and Law Exam (for contractors) is part of the process.

What do electricians earn in South Carolina? expand_more

electricians in South Carolina earn a median of $58,260 annually. That's 7% below the national median of $62,350. Entry-level (10th percentile) starts at $39,910, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $76,230.

How expensive is electrician licensing in South Carolina? expand_more

Costs include exam fee ($100) and application fee ($135). The estimated total investment is varies, including education and training.

How long does it take to become an electrician in South Carolina? expand_more

The typical timeline in South Carolina is 2 years (for journeyman experience). This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

What's required to renew a electrician license in South Carolina? expand_more

Yes — electricians in South Carolina must complete 8.0 CE hours every 1.0 year to stay licensed.