Truck Driver Salary in South Carolina (2026): BLS OEWS Data, Top Metros & Carriers
Last verified: 2026-04-20 against BLS OEWS 53-3032 May 2024 release, SC Department of Employment and Workforce data, and carrier-published pay bands.
South Carolina's freight economy centers on Port of Charleston (one of the largest East Coast container ports), major manufacturing (BMW Spartanburg, Boeing Charleston 787, Volvo Ridgeville), and I-95 / I-26 / I-20 / I-77 corridor access. SC state median pay runs meaningfully below national, but specialty manufacturing and port-adjacent dedicated work offer strong upper tail. This guide extracts BLS OEWS for SC against the national $57,440 median for SOC 53-3032 (May 2024).1
Key Takeaways
- BLS OEWS 53-3032, May 2024 — SC median annual wage: $52,710.3 That's $4,730 below national — roughly 8.2% below national.1
- SC state employment: ~28,730 heavy and tractor-trailer drivers.3
- Top paying SC metros: Charleston–North Charleston MSA (Port of Charleston + Boeing); Greenville–Anderson MSA (BMW tier-1); Columbia MSA (state capital).
- Dominant freight segments: Port of Charleston drayage; BMW tier-1 and finished-vehicle (Spartanburg); Boeing 787 aerospace (Charleston); Volvo Ridgeville finished vehicle; I-95 LTL linehaul; agricultural (poultry, cotton, specialty).
- Pay premium endorsements: Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T). TWIC for Port of Charleston terminal access.
- Cross-reference: South Carolina CDL Requirements guide.
SC Truck Driver Wages — BLS OEWS 53-3032 State Data
BLS OEWS state data for SOC 53-3032 in SC, May 2024 reference period. Verify at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_sc.htm.3
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual median (50th percentile) | $52,710 | BLS OEWS state cell, May 2024.3 |
| Annual mean wage | ~$54,000–$56,000 | Mean above median. |
| Annual 10th percentile | ~$35,000–$37,000 | Entry-level. |
| Annual 25th percentile | ~$43,000–$45,500 | |
| Annual 75th percentile | ~$63,500–$68,000 | Experienced dedicated, LTL, port drayage, BMW/Boeing. |
| Annual 90th percentile | ~$78,000–$84,500 | LTL linehaul seniority, port specialty, Boeing aerospace specialty. |
| State employment | ~28,730 | Per BLS state OEWS.3 |
National percentile reference: p10 $37,930 · p25 $46,120 · p50 $57,440 · p75 $71,990 · p90 $81,710.1
How SC Compares to National
SC's $52,710 state median runs $4,730 below national.13 BEA RPP shows South Carolina below national index — strong real purchasing power on SC median pay.4
Metro variation: - Above state median: Charleston-North Charleston MSA. - Near state median: Greenville-Anderson, Columbia. - Below state median: Rural SC, coastal small metros (Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head).
Top SC Metros for Truck Drivers
Charleston (Charleston–North Charleston MSA)
Port + aerospace: - Port of Charleston — one of largest East Coast container ports. Dense drayage demand. - Boeing South Carolina — 787 Dreamliner final assembly plant. Specialty aerospace dedicated. - Volvo Cars Ridgeville — automotive tier-1 supplier + finished-vehicle. - I-26 / I-95 / I-526 access.
Charleston MSA OEWS posts above SC state mean. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_16700.htm.5
Greenville–Anderson (Greenville-Anderson MSA)
BMW Manufacturing corridor: - BMW Manufacturing Co. (Spartanburg) — BMW's largest global plant by output. Major tier-1 supplier and finished-vehicle freight demand. Served via Port of Charleston for import/export. - Michelin North America HQ (Greenville) — tire manufacturing + distribution. - I-85 corridor to Atlanta and Charlotte.
Greenville MSA OEWS near state median or above. Current MSA data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_24860.htm.5
Columbia (Columbia MSA)
State capital + regional distribution + Fort Jackson military + University of South Carolina logistics. I-20 / I-26 / I-77 convergence. Tracks near state median.5
Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head
Tourism / seasonal + coastal freight. Typically below state median.5
Major Freight Industries Driving SC Pay
| Industry | Freight footprint | Endorsement fit | Pay band notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Charleston drayage | Charleston metro container terminals | H for hazmat; TWIC for terminal access | Drayage $62–$85k experienced. |
| BMW tier-1 + finished vehicle (Spartanburg) | Upstate SC + dealer distribution | Specialty training | Dedicated $65–$88k experienced. |
| Boeing 787 aerospace (Charleston) | Aerospace tier-1 + oversize | Specialty training + oversize permits | $68–$92k experienced. |
| Volvo Cars Ridgeville | Volvo tier-1 + finished | Specialty training | $65–$88k experienced. |
| LTL linehaul | Statewide (ODFL, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight, Southeastern Freight Lines) | T valuable | Senior $78–$100k+. |
| Michelin tire distribution | Upstate SC | None required | $62–$85k. |
| Agricultural / poultry | Rural SC | None required | Seasonal $55–$75k. |
| Tanker / petroleum | Statewide fuel distribution | N+H | $68–$92k experienced. |
Major Carriers Hiring in SC
- Port of Charleston drayage: Multiple regional operators; Schneider, Werner, JB Hunt, Hub Group with port operations.
- Auto-carrier (BMW/Volvo): Jack Cooper, Cassens Transport — BMW Spartanburg + Volvo Ridgeville finished-vehicle distribution.
- LTL: Old Dominion, Saia, XPO Logistics, ABF Freight, FedEx Freight, Estes Express, R+L Carriers, Southeastern Freight Lines (HQ Lexington SC — major SC-based LTL).
- Mega OTR / Regional: Schneider, Werner, CR England, Covenant, Heartland, Knight-Swift.
- Dedicated / private fleet: Walmart Private Fleet, Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, Costco, Amazon, Food Lion, Publix regional.
- Boeing dedicated: Specialty aerospace carriers.
- Tanker / petroleum: Kenan Advantage Group, local fuel distributors.
- SC-HQ specialty: Southeastern Freight Lines (Lexington SC — major Southeast LTL), multiple Port of Charleston drayage operators.
Pay by Route Type
- OTR: $58–$78k.
- Regional (SC + NC/GA/FL/TN): $62–$82k.
- Local / home-daily: $50–$78k; Port of Charleston drayage $62–$85k.
- Dedicated: $62–$90k; BMW / Volvo / Boeing dedicated at upper end.
- LTL linehaul (Southeastern Freight HQ SC + others): $78–$100k+ senior.
- Owner-operator: variable $62–$130k net.
Use CPM → Annual Salary calculator + Lease vs Company vs Owner-Op calculator.
SC CDL and Licensing
South Carolina CDL Requirements guide. SCDMV; $19.50 CLP, ~$69.50 total government, $2 per additional knowledge test; 8-year standard / 5-year hazmat cycle; cash avoids $1+1.7% service fee.
FAQs
How much does a truck driver make in South Carolina in 2026? SC state median for SOC 53-3032 is $52,710 per BLS OEWS May 20243 — approximately 8.2% below national $57,440.1 Experienced drivers on specialty freight (senior LTL at Southeastern Freight, Port drayage, BMW/Boeing dedicated) push into $78–$100k. Entry-level drivers earn $38–$44k year one.
What is the highest-paying trucking job in South Carolina? Senior LTL linehaul at Southeastern Freight Lines (HQ Lexington SC), Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight with T endorsement — experienced drivers exceed $82–$100k. Port of Charleston drayage seniors, Boeing 787 aerospace specialty, BMW dedicated, and specialty tanker can match.
Where in SC do truck drivers get paid the most? Charleston MSA leads on Port of Charleston drayage + Boeing 787 aerospace. Greenville-Anderson leads on BMW tier-1 premium. Columbia tracks near state median. Coastal tourism metros below.
Is SC a good state for truck drivers? Yes — Port of Charleston is one of fastest-growing East Coast ports. BMW Spartanburg is BMW's largest global plant + generates dense tier-1 supplier freight. Boeing 787 creates aerospace specialty. Southeastern Freight Lines HQ in SC is major LTL employer. Cost of living favorable.
How does SC truck driver pay compare to North Carolina? SC state median ($52,710) runs below NC state median ($54,150). Both below national. NC has ODFL/Lowe's HQ edge; SC has BMW Spartanburg + Port of Charleston + Boeing specialty. Real purchasing power close to comparable given similar cost of living.
Can I make six figures as a truck driver in South Carolina? Yes. Senior LTL linehaul at Southeastern Freight (Lexington SC HQ) / ODFL / Saia / XPO; BMW or Boeing or Volvo dedicated specialty; Port of Charleston drayage specialty; specialty tanker with X endorsement.
What are the largest carriers hiring in SC in 2026? Southeastern Freight Lines (Lexington SC HQ — major Southeast LTL employer), Old Dominion, Saia, XPO, ABF, FedEx Freight, Schneider, Werner, Walmart Private Fleet, BMW-dedicated carriers, Boeing-dedicated specialty. Verify current pay bands via each recruiting portal.
Port of Charleston drayage — any specifics? Class A CDL baseline. TWIC commonly required by terminal operators. Growing port volume means steady demand. Charleston port has expanded intermodal connections.
BMW Spartanburg dedicated — what's unique? Tier-1 supplier freight + finished-vehicle export (BMW Spartanburg exports via Port of Charleston). Specialty dedicated carriers with BMW training. Consistent pay + benefits; schedule stability.
Sources
-
BLS OEWS, "53-3032," May 2024 national.
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes533032.htm↩↩↩↩↩ -
BLS OOH, "Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers — Pay."
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm#tab-5↩ -
BLS OEWS, "May 2024 State Estimates — South Carolina."
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_sc.htm↩↩↩↩↩↩↩ -
U.S. BEA, "Regional Price Parities."
https://www.bea.gov/data/prices-inflation/regional-price-parities-state-and-metro-area↩ -
BLS OEWS, "May 2024 Metro Estimates." Charleston-North Charleston MSA:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_16700.htm· Greenville-Anderson MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_24860.htm· Columbia MSA:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_17900.htm· All SC MSAs:https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm↩↩↩↩
