Excavation costs and wages in South Carolina
What equipment operators and construction laborers earn in South Carolina, how many excavation contractors are listed here and in which counties, and the state's licensing rules. Job prices aren't published for any one state, so our price ranges are national.
Checked October 2, 2026
Wages in South Carolina
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in South Carolina earn a median of $23.53 an hour, or $48,940 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $21.62 and $27.78 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 8,160 of these jobs in South Carolina. That's below the national median of $28.78 an hour (BLS).
Construction laborers in South Carolina earn a median of $20.65 an hour, or $42,940 a year (BLS, May 2025). Half of them earn between $17.64 and $23.62 an hour, the 25th to 75th percentiles (BLS state file). BLS counts 19,620 of these jobs in South Carolina. That's below the national median of $22.66 an hour (BLS).
These are wages, not prices. A contractor's price also covers materials, equipment, insurance, overhead and profit, so a wage can't be turned into what a job costs you. BLS counts employees only, not the self-employed.
Contractors in South Carolina
South Carolina has 528 excavation contractors listed, and 337 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Of the counties with pages of their own, the largest are Spartanburg County (62), Greenville County (51), Lexington County (42), Pickens County (37) and Oconee County (35). Browse them by county, or ask for quotes and we'll match you with excavation contractors near you.
Permits and rules in South Carolina
South Carolina licenses contractors through the South Carolina Contractor's Licensing Board (SC LLR) (Code of Laws - Title 40 - Chapter 11 - Contractors).
National price ranges
National price ranges for excavation, clearing, grading and driveway work, each credited to its source, are in our guides to excavation, land clearing, grading and driveway costs.
For a planning range on your own job, run the estimator.
South Carolina against the national range
Published labor data puts the Southeast's average rates lowest in the country (SiteX).
That's an average across a region, not a price for your job, and local quotes vary inside it.
Get quotes from contractors in your county
One request instead of calling contractors one at a time. We'll match you with an excavation contractor near you. It's free, and you don't have to hire anyone.
Cite this page
“Excavation costs and wages in South Carolina.” LeaderExcavation.com, updated October 2, 2026. https://leaderexcavation.com/sc/costs/