Fastest-growing jobs in South Carolina

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis revealed that, as of September 2025, the national hiring rate has reached a decade low, with the exception of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press reports that several factors have contributed to this, including the impact of the eleven interest rate hikes that occurred in 2022 and 2023 and the dozens of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump since the beginning of the year.

Economists generally agree that the long-run breakeven employment growth rate (or the rate at which new jobs need to be added to keep up with population growth) is somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000 jobs per month. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August 2025, just 22,000 new jobs were added. June and July saw a combined 87,000 new jobs added to the workforce.

Those numbers are bleak, to be sure, but not all employment news is bad. Certain sectors, like health care and social services, continue to see rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average hourly earnings for all employees are also up by 3.7% over the past 12 months. The total number of hours worked per week has been edging down for all employees, providing opportunities for much-needed work-life balance.

The employment story also looks quite different from state to state. Some places, like Utah, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and Idaho, are seeing high-percentage job growth year over year; others, like Washington D.C., Iowa, and Kansas, have actually seen a shrinkage in the overall number of job openings.

Using BLS jobs data, Stacker determined the fastest-growing jobs in South Carolina. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2023 and 2024. Jobs were excluded from the ranking if they had fewer than 1,000 people working in them in the state.

Keep reading to learn which jobs are growing the fastest in South Carolina.

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#50. Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.2% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,230
--- Employment in 2023: 3,640
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,420

fizkes // Shutterstock

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#49. Management Analysts

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.9% (1,530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 10,600
--- Employment in 2023: 9,070
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $87,050

Sergey Ryzhov // Shutterstock

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#48. Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.0% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,030
--- Employment in 2023: 880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,450

Mongta Studio // Shutterstock

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#47. Cost Estimators

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.1% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,460
--- Employment in 2023: 2,100
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $67,420

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

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#46. Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.6% (700 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,680
--- Employment in 2023: 3,980
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,720

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#45. Social and Human Service Assistants

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.9% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,880
--- Employment in 2023: 3,290
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,430

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

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#44. Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.1% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,220
--- Employment in 2023: 1,880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $26,350

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

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#43. Instructional Coordinators

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +18.3% (570 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,690
--- Employment in 2023: 3,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,560

guteksk7 // Shutterstock

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#42. Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.0% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,500
--- Employment in 2023: 1,250
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $40,190

PanuShot // Shutterstock

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#41. Financial Specialists, All Other

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.6% (210 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,230
--- Employment in 2023: 1,020
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $75,380

GolF2532 // Shutterstock

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#40. Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +20.9% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,100
--- Employment in 2023: 910
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,170

Lopolo // Shutterstock

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#39. Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.6% (1,600 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,010
--- Employment in 2023: 7,410
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,810

Alexander Oganezov // Shutterstock

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#38. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +21.7% (180 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,010
--- Employment in 2023: 830
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,810

Martin Smith // Shutterstock

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#37. Parking Attendants

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.0% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,330
--- Employment in 2023: 1,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,570

sculpies // Shutterstock

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#36. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +22.1% (2,280 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 12,600
--- Employment in 2023: 10,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $74,240

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#35. Medical Assistants

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.3% (2,220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 11,750
--- Employment in 2023: 9,530
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,820

kanemme6 // Shutterstock

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#34. Tire Repairers and Changers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +23.6% (300 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,570
--- Employment in 2023: 1,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $33,350

santi lumubol // Shutterstock

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#33. Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.2% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,640
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $70,800

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

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#32. Project Management Specialists

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.2% (2,540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 13,050
--- Employment in 2023: 10,510
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $91,010

Pressmaster // Shutterstock

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#31. Public Relations Specialists

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.8% (560 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,820
--- Employment in 2023: 2,260
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $60,550

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#30. Sheet Metal Workers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.8% (290 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,460
--- Employment in 2023: 1,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,080

Prostock-studio // Shutterstock

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#29. Dentists, General

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.4% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,320
--- Employment in 2023: 1,850
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $158,460

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#28. Civil Engineers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.4% (1,510 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,460
--- Employment in 2023: 5,950
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $99,680

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#27. Couriers and Messengers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +25.8% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,120
--- Employment in 2023: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,360

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#26. Operations Research Analysts

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.0% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,210
--- Employment in 2023: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $74,880

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#25. Family Medicine Physicians

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.2% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,060
--- Employment in 2023: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $236,950

Chay_Tee // Shutterstock

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#24. Tax Preparers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.3% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,490
--- Employment in 2023: 1,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,550

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#23. Automotive Body and Related Repairers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.8% (530 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,510
--- Employment in 2023: 1,980
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,190

VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

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#22. Food Servers, Nonrestaurant

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.1% (700 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,190
--- Employment in 2023: 2,490
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $30,150

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#21. First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +28.7% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,390
--- Employment in 2023: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $72,480

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

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#20. Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.1% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,770
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $27,090

Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock

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#19. Business Teachers, Postsecondary

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +31.6% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,540
--- Employment in 2023: 1,170
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,060

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#18. Nuclear Engineers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +32.0% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,280
--- Employment in 2023: 970
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $107,880

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#17. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.0% (710 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,800
--- Employment in 2023: 2,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,480

Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock

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#16. Data Scientists

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.4% (720 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,810
--- Employment in 2023: 2,090
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $90,660

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#15. Childcare Workers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +34.4% (2,960 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 11,570
--- Employment in 2023: 8,610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,440

Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

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#14. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.7% (1,470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,480
--- Employment in 2023: 4,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,840

N.Z.Photography // Shutterstock

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#13. Computer Occupations, All Other

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.8% (1,570 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,840
--- Employment in 2023: 4,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $104,330

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

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#12. Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +36.9% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,150
--- Employment in 2023: 840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $49,470

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#11. Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +41.4% (1,060 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,620
--- Employment in 2023: 2,560
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,390

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#10. Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +43.9% (540 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,770
--- Employment in 2023: 1,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $59,900

Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

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#9. Food Service Managers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +48.3% (1,420 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,360
--- Employment in 2023: 2,940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $63,080

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#8. Skincare Specialists

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +50.0% (370 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,110
--- Employment in 2023: 740
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,810

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#7. Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +66.9% (850 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,120
--- Employment in 2023: 1,270
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,670

Kzenon // Shutterstock

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#6. Self-Enrichment Teachers

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +67.0% (1,380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,440
--- Employment in 2023: 2,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,690

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#5. Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +70.1% (680 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,650
--- Employment in 2023: 970
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,840

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#4. Maintenance Workers, Machinery

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +70.5% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,040
--- Employment in 2023: 610
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $62,610

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#3. Business Operations Specialists, All Other

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +81.4% (4,740 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 10,560
--- Employment in 2023: 5,820
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,190

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#2. Helpers--Electricians

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +116.1% (1,010 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,880
--- Employment in 2023: 870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,050

Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

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#1. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +118.0% (590 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,090
--- Employment in 2023: 500
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $87,870

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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