--- title: "Crane Operator Programs in South Carolina: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/south-carolina/ description: "Crane Operator pay in South Carolina: BLS average $65,890 (all experience levels), median $64,120, bottom 10% $45,420. 0 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Crane Operator](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/) 4. South Carolina South Carolina # Crane Operator programs in *South Carolina* No crane operator programs are listed in South Carolina in the federal files we use yet, plus BLS pay data for the state and 7 metro areas. - **$65,890** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$45,420** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$64,120** Median pay (state) - **$89,440** Top 10% earn over 720 jobs in South Carolina · 0 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. BLS wage data ## Crane Operator pay in South Carolina Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | South Carolina | $45,420 | $48,100 | $64,120 | $80,880 | $89,440 | $65,890 | 720 | | United States | $42,640 | $52,600 | $68,080 | $83,200 | $103,570 | $72,130 | 42,890 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,990 | $60,140 | $80,880 | $80,880 | $97,340 | $74,890 | 320 | | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $46,230 | $52,620 | $76,940 | $85,990 | $95,210 | $72,120 | 40 | | Columbia, SC | $39,370 | $47,620 | $65,870 | $77,310 | $88,960 | $64,220 | 50 | | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,410 | $53,840 | $63,300 | $77,320 | $82,730 | $64,610 | 300 | | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $42,840 | $47,180 | $58,370 | $71,300 | $78,440 | $58,720 | 90 | | Florence, SC | $48,100 | $48,100 | $48,100 | $57,980 | $72,350 | $54,640 | 60 | | Spartanburg, SC | $42,130 | $44,870 | $47,200 | $52,020 | $76,300 | $52,030 | 60 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## No listed programs yet We found no school or registered sponsor for this trade in South Carolina in the IPEDS 2023-24 completions file or the DOL partner file. Programs in neighboring states may enroll out-of-state students; see the [national list](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/). Related resources ## Keep researching [**GI Bill heavy equipment operator schools** Schools approved for VA benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/heavy-equipment-operator/) [**CDL schools, if your crane job involves driving** Truck-mounted crane work on public roads can require a CDL; check the employer. · VerifiedCDLSchools.com](https://verifiedcdlschools.com/) [**Registered apprenticeships in South Carolina** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/sc/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [53-7021.00 Crane and Tower Operators](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-7021.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/south-carolina/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.