Truck Driver Salary in South Carolina
Complete 2026 salary data for CDL and non-CDL truck drivers in South Carolina. Compare pay by license type, see cost of living adjustments, and find the highest-paying cities.
CDL-A Avg
$55,680
CDL-B Avg
$44,200
Non-CDL Avg
$41,510
Owner-Op Gross
$190,000
Salary Comparison by License Type
How South Carolina truck driver pay compares across CDL-A, CDL-B, non-CDL, and owner-operator categories.
Cost of Living in South Carolina
South Carolina's cost of living is 9% below the national average. Your salary stretches further here than in most states.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Pay
Nominal CDL-A Salary
$55,680
Adjusted Purchasing Power
$61,187
After adjusting for South Carolina's cost of living index of 91, a CDL-A salary of $55,680 provides the same purchasing power as $61,187 in an average-cost area. This means your money goes further in South Carolina than the raw salary suggests.
Which South Carolina metros pay best?
Our estimate for each of these markets, built from the South Carolina average scaled for metro size. Where two metros show the same number it is because they sit in the same population band — we do not hold data fine-grained enough to separate them, and we would rather say so than invent a difference.
Salary by City in South Carolina
Explore detailed truck driver salary data for individual cities in South Carolina, including cost of living adjustments, top employers, and local market trends.
| City | CDL-A Avg | Cost of Living | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $57,907 | 105 | Rising |
| Greenville | $57,907 | 92 | Rising |
| Columbia | $57,907 | 91 | Rising |
| Spartanburg | $55,680 | 91 | Stable |
| Florence | $55,680 | 91 | Stable |
Salary Trend in South Carolina
South Carolina trucking wages are rising as the Port of Charleston undergoes major expansion and the Upstate I-85 corridor attracts automotive manufacturing (BMW, Volvo) and distribution centers.
South Carolina vs National Average
| Category | SC | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A Average | $55,680 | $59,710 | $-4,030 |
| Cost of Living | 91 | 100 | -9 |
| Adjusted Pay | $61,187 | $59,710 | +$1,477 |
Driving jobs we are recruiting for in South Carolina
Pay on this page is the statewide picture. These are the actual seats we are filling in South Carolina, each with its own pay, home time and requirements.
Dump Truck & Hotshot Flatbed Driver
Based on experience · Discussed on the call
OTR Dry Van Driver
$51,000 - $72,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Reefer Driver
$56,000 - $79,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Flatbed Driver
$57,500 - $81,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Step Deck Driver
$58,500 - $82,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Tanker Driver
$59,000 - $83,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Hazmat Driver
$60,500 - $85,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Car Hauler Driver
$61,500 - $87,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Oversized Driver
$64,500 - $91,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Regional Intermodal Driver
$52,500 - $74,000/year · Home weekly
Local Box Truck Driver
$43,000 - $61,000/year · Home daily
Regional Dump Truck Driver
$48,500 - $69,000/year · Home most nights
Local Cement Mixer Driver
$49,000 - $69,500/year · Home daily
OTR Hotshot Driver
$53,500 - $75,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
Regional Less Than Truckload Driver
$54,500 - $76,500/year · Home weekly
OTR Power Only Driver
$51,000 - $72,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Local Straight Truck Driver
$42,000 - $59,500/year · Home daily
Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Pay in South Carolina
What is the average truck driver salary in South Carolina?
South Carolina CDL-A drivers average $55,680. Charleston drivers earn the most thanks to the expanding Port of Charleston and its growing container operations.
How is the Port of Charleston affecting trucking jobs?
The Port of Charleston's new Hugh Leatherman terminal is dramatically increasing container capacity. This expansion creates port drayage, regional, and local trucking jobs throughout the Lowcountry.
What industries drive South Carolina trucking?
Automotive manufacturing (BMW in Spartanburg, Volvo in Ridgeville), port freight in Charleston, tire manufacturing (Michelin in Greenville), and the growing distribution center corridor along I-85 and I-26.
What does South Carolina pay at your experience level?
- No Experience / Student driver pay in South Carolina
- Entry Level driver pay in South Carolina
- Mid Level driver pay in South Carolina
- Experienced driver pay in South Carolina
- Veteran driver pay in South Carolina