Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Spartanburg, SC

Each occupation's median wage in Spartanburg, SC compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Spartanburg, SC pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Spartanburg, SC run 8.9% below the national average (2024), so a Spartanburg, SC salary is worth about 1.10× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Spartanburg, SC

OccupationMedian, Spartanburg, SC · vs. national

1Chemists$122,350
Bachelor's degree
$64,730 – $172,280+34.1%
2Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$59,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $74,280+32.8%
3Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$138,750
Bachelor's degree
$62,680 – $202,100+32.2%
4Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$83,440
Bachelor's degree
$64,800 – $103,660+30.7%
5Physical Therapist Assistants$88,070
Associate's degree
$56,620 – $88,420+28.8%
6First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$92,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,340 – $97,670+23.7%
7Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$61,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $74,270+22.4%
8Occupational Therapy Assistants$86,040
Associate's degree
$55,580 – $89,510+19.0%
9Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders$45,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,250 – $58,350+18.6%
10Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $64,730+18.3%
11Opticians, Dispensing$55,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $72,680+16.7%
12Facilities Managers$124,290
Bachelor's degree
$73,420 – $188,910+16.5%
13Chefs and Head Cooks$72,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,680 – $83,370+16.3%
14Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$45,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,980 – $57,030+13.8%
15Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other$51,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,250 – $63,040+12.1%
16Administrative Services Managers$127,770
Bachelor's degree
$63,610 – $252,610+12.0%
17Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,020 – $61,760+11.7%
18Occupational Therapists$111,540
Master's degree
$78,620 – $112,020+11.2%
19Skincare Specialists$49,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,140 – $92,530+9.2%
20Pharmacists$153,610
Doctoral or professional degree
$85,990 – $171,380+9.0%
21Physical Therapists$111,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,650 – $113,030+8.9%
22Maintenance Workers, Machinery$65,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,350 – $84,810+8.0%
23Cargo and Freight Agents$56,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,570 – $74,780+7.9%
24Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$71,490
Bachelor's degree
$49,350 – $76,490+7.9%
25Postal Service Clerks$66,750
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+7.4%
26Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$49,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,530 – $63,590+7.3%
27Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$53,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,240 – $77,990+7.1%
28Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,350 – $56,860+6.8%
29Tire Repairers and Changers$40,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,390 – $45,800+6.5%
30Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$95,130
Bachelor's degree
$58,450 – $137,140+5.5%
31Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$63,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $78,380+5.4%
32Pest Control Workers$47,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,550 – $61,920+5.3%
33Sewing Machine Operators$38,530
No formal educational credential
$30,040 – $50,380+5.1%
34Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $67,470+4.9%
35Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$77,310
Associate's degree
$51,590 – $100,750+4.6%
36Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$52,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,530 – $74,780+4.2%
37Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$111,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,740 – $169,030+4.1%
38Industrial Production Managers$131,250
Bachelor's degree
$85,260 – $201,420+4.1%
39First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,420 – $80,360+4.0%
40Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$48,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $48,100+3.8%
41Construction Managers$119,110
Bachelor's degree
$70,950 – $194,590+3.6%
42Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$57,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,670 – $61,630+3.6%
43Tellers$44,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $47,240+3.3%
44First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$82,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,470 – $121,920+3.2%
45Massage Therapists$60,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,840 – $91,110+2.8%
46Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$44,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,630 – $57,110+2.7%
47Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,860
Associate's degree
$43,430 – $100,790+2.6%
48Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$64,490
Bachelor's degree
$37,390 – $81,470+2.5%
49Machinists$60,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,640 – $74,700+2.2%
50General and Operations Managers$108,100
Bachelor's degree
$59,100 – $226,270+2.2%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianSpartanburg, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$122,350	$64,730 – $172,280	+34.1%
2	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,300	$37,860 – $74,280	+32.8%
3	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$138,750	$62,680 – $202,100	+32.2%
4	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$83,440	$64,800 – $103,660	+30.7%
5	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$88,070	$56,620 – $88,420	+28.8%
6	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,070	$53,340 – $97,670	+23.7%
7	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,940	$47,690 – $74,270	+22.4%
8	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$86,040	$55,580 – $89,510	+19.0%
9	Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,290	$35,250 – $58,350	+18.6%
10	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,080	$45,830 – $64,730	+18.3%
11	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,170	$38,080 – $72,680	+16.7%
12	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$124,290	$73,420 – $188,910	+16.5%
13	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,670	$49,680 – $83,370	+16.3%
14	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,110	$34,980 – $57,030	+13.8%
15	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,500	$35,250 – $63,040	+12.1%
16	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$127,770	$63,610 – $252,610	+12.0%
17	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,110	$38,020 – $61,760	+11.7%
18	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$111,540	$78,620 – $112,020	+11.2%
19	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,490	$23,140 – $92,530	+9.2%
20	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$153,610	$85,990 – $171,380	+9.0%
21	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$111,860	$79,650 – $113,030	+8.9%
22	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,740	$47,350 – $84,810	+8.0%
23	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,410	$48,570 – $74,780	+7.9%
24	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$71,490	$49,350 – $76,490	+7.9%
25	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$66,750	$42,600 – $75,030	+7.4%
26	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,550	$38,530 – $63,590	+7.3%
27	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,110	$35,240 – $77,990	+7.1%
28	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,990	$39,350 – $56,860	+6.8%
29	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,180	$29,390 – $45,800	+6.5%
30	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$95,130	$58,450 – $137,140	+5.5%
31	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,340	$36,250 – $78,380	+5.4%
32	Pest Control WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,630	$37,550 – $61,920	+5.3%
33	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$38,530	$30,040 – $50,380	+5.1%
34	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,530	$36,230 – $67,470	+4.9%
35	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,310	$51,590 – $100,750	+4.6%
36	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,810	$42,530 – $74,780	+4.2%
37	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$111,660	$75,740 – $169,030	+4.1%
38	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$131,250	$85,260 – $201,420	+4.1%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,740	$38,420 – $80,360	+4.0%
40	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,100	$46,040 – $48,100	+3.8%
41	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$119,110	$70,950 – $194,590	+3.6%
42	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,580	$36,670 – $61,630	+3.6%
43	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,430	$36,400 – $47,240	+3.3%
44	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,390	$52,470 – $121,920	+3.2%
45	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,100	$39,840 – $91,110	+2.8%
46	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,560	$31,630 – $57,110	+2.7%
47	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,860	$43,430 – $100,790	+2.6%
48	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$64,490	$37,390 – $81,470	+2.5%
49	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,060	$42,640 – $74,700	+2.2%
50	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$108,100	$59,100 – $226,270	+2.2%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Spartanburg, SC to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Spartanburg, SC

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