Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Sumter, SC

Each occupation's median wage in Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Sumter, SC run 12.0% below the national average (2024), so a Sumter, SC salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Sumter, SC

OccupationMedian, Sumter, SC · vs. national

1Logisticians$93,640
Bachelor's degree
$53,390 – $133,210+13.8%
2Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$39,500
No formal educational credential
$22,150 – $61,380+10.2%
3Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$98,490
Bachelor's degree
$59,140 – $136,580+9.3%
4Business Operations Specialists, All Other$88,710
Bachelor's degree
$63,130 – $126,440+6.8%
5Insurance Sales Agents$66,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $122,670+6.6%
6Information and Record Clerks, All Other$52,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $59,950+5.9%
7Chefs and Head Cooks$65,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $77,590+4.1%
8Construction Managers$117,490
Bachelor's degree
$72,280 – $181,100+2.2%
9Buyers and Purchasing Agents$79,030
Bachelor's degree
$41,920 – $121,370+1.7%
10Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,840 – $63,980+1.4%
11Industrial Production Managers$127,350
Bachelor's degree
$76,830 – $199,990+1.0%
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,170 – $114,170-0.4%
13Industrial Engineers$101,430
Bachelor's degree
$68,710 – $130,890-1.0%
14Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,800 – $71,820-1.4%
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,060 – $119,970-2.0%
16Physical Therapists$100,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,170 – $115,210-2.2%
17First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,430 – $104,660-2.4%
18Highway Maintenance Workers$48,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,710 – $60,780-2.6%
19Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,860 – $72,670-2.7%
20First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$47,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,040 – $66,040-2.9%
21Healthcare Social Workers$65,850
Master's degree
$47,770 – $77,260-3.0%
22Mechanical Engineers$101,010
Bachelor's degree
$66,160 – $147,120-3.0%
23Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$48,160
No formal educational credential
$27,680 – $59,530-3.1%
24Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $109,300-3.6%
25Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,380
Bachelor's degree
$38,880 – $85,770-4.1%
26Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$47,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,720 – $69,550-4.5%
27First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,140 – $82,160-5.0%
28Dental Assistants$45,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,520 – $51,060-5.3%
29General and Operations Managers$99,850
Bachelor's degree
$50,740 – $209,010-5.6%
30Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,490 – $75,330-5.7%
31Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,290
Associate's degree
$61,230 – $80,120-5.8%
32Accountants and Auditors$78,460
Bachelor's degree
$49,400 – $133,470-6.2%
33Management Analysts$95,150
Bachelor's degree
$46,110 – $133,470-6.6%
34Administrative Services Managers$106,480
Bachelor's degree
$65,580 – $159,350-6.7%
35Civil Engineers$94,110
Bachelor's degree
$70,380 – $128,390-6.7%
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,060 – $76,240-7.7%
37Human Resources Specialists$69,990
Bachelor's degree
$42,830 – $115,920-7.8%
38Pharmacists$129,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,320 – $166,190-7.9%
39Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$59,270
Master's degree
$37,160 – $78,850-7.9%
40Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$46,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,660 – $76,050-8.1%
41Managers, All Other$129,960
Bachelor's degree
$107,230 – $161,890-8.4%
42Tire Repairers and Changers$34,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,320 – $50,320-8.7%
43Security Guards$34,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,120 – $55,440-8.8%
44Helpers--Electricians$38,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,700 – $48,540-8.8%
45Teachers and Instructors, All Other$60,220
Bachelor's degree
$60,220 – $81,390-9.0%
46Compliance Officers$73,320
Bachelor's degree
$40,460 – $112,260-9.2%
47Computer Systems Analysts$95,870
Bachelor's degree
$48,100 – $137,040-9.4%
48Food Service Managers$62,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,700 – $100,050-9.6%
49Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$57,650
Bachelor's degree
$45,440 – $72,850-9.9%
50First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,590 – $64,570-10.3%

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

#	Occupation	MedianSumter, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$93,640	$53,390 – $133,210	+13.8%
2	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$39,500	$22,150 – $61,380	+10.2%
3	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$98,490	$59,140 – $136,580	+9.3%
4	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$88,710	$63,130 – $126,440	+6.8%
5	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,370	$36,250 – $122,670	+6.6%
6	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,440	$36,820 – $59,950	+5.9%
7	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,020	$41,600 – $77,590	+4.1%
8	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$117,490	$72,280 – $181,100	+2.2%
9	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$79,030	$41,920 – $121,370	+1.7%
10	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,250	$35,840 – $63,980	+1.4%
11	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$127,350	$76,830 – $199,990	+1.0%
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,540	$45,170 – $114,170	-0.4%
13	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,430	$68,710 – $130,890	-1.0%
14	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,140	$20,800 – $71,820	-1.4%
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,290	$54,060 – $119,970	-2.0%
16	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,520	$60,170 – $115,210	-2.2%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,690	$54,430 – $104,660	-2.4%
18	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,950	$42,710 – $60,780	-2.6%
19	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,640	$50,860 – $72,670	-2.7%
20	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,660	$30,040 – $66,040	-2.9%
21	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$65,850	$47,770 – $77,260	-3.0%
22	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$101,010	$66,160 – $147,120	-3.0%
23	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$48,160	$27,680 – $59,530	-3.1%
24	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,160	$49,940 – $109,300	-3.6%
25	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$60,380	$38,880 – $85,770	-4.1%
26	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,340	$27,720 – $69,550	-4.5%
27	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,770	$45,140 – $82,160	-5.0%
28	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,500	$36,520 – $51,060	-5.3%
29	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$99,850	$50,740 – $209,010	-5.6%
30	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$42,490 – $75,330	-5.7%
31	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,290	$61,230 – $80,120	-5.8%
32	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$78,460	$49,400 – $133,470	-6.2%
33	Management AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,150	$46,110 – $133,470	-6.6%
34	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$106,480	$65,580 – $159,350	-6.7%
35	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$94,110	$70,380 – $128,390	-6.7%
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,000	$44,060 – $76,240	-7.7%
37	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$69,990	$42,830 – $115,920	-7.8%
38	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$129,820	$104,320 – $166,190	-7.9%
39	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$59,270	$37,160 – $78,850	-7.9%
40	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,500	$29,660 – $76,050	-8.1%
41	Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$129,960	$107,230 – $161,890	-8.4%
42	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,430	$21,320 – $50,320	-8.7%
43	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,660	$26,120 – $55,440	-8.8%
44	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,930	$30,700 – $48,540	-8.8%
45	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$60,220	$60,220 – $81,390	-9.0%
46	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$73,320	$40,460 – $112,260	-9.2%
47	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,870	$48,100 – $137,040	-9.4%
48	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,750	$44,700 – $100,050	-9.6%
49	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$57,650	$45,440 – $72,850	-9.9%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,540	$28,590 – $64,570	-10.3%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Sumter, SC

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