South Carolina Firefighter Salaries by Department
Starting pay at 18 South Carolina fire departments, taken from the pay figures each department published in its own job postings over the last two years. Across 41 current South Carolina listings with annual pay, the average starting salary is $52,935.
Highest recent entry-level starting pay in South Carolina
- 1. City of Goose Creek Fire Department $63,190 (Firefighter / Paramedic, July 2026)
- 2. Hardeeville Fire Department $56,738 (Firefighter/EMT New, July 2026)
- 3. McEntire Joint National Guard Base Fire Department $55,882 (Lead Firefighter, September 2026)
- 4. Dorchester County Fire Rescue $53,276 (Fire Engineer, October 2026)
- 5. Loris Fire Department $52,015 (Firefighter/EMT - Certified, July 2026)
All South Carolina departments with posted pay
| Department | Starting pay posted | Top of range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dorchester County Fire Rescue · Saint George | $48,323 to $53,276 | $58,904 | 2 |
| Loris Fire Department · Loris | $52,015 to $64,015 | Not listed | 2 |
| Antioch Fire Department · Lancaster | $46,946 | Not listed | 1 |
| Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department · Beaufort | $51,387 | $68,758 | 1 |
| Center Fire Department · Aiken | $40,126 | Not listed | 1 |
| City of Goose Creek Fire Department · Goose Creek | $63,190 | $72,359 | 1 |
| Columbia Fire Department · Columbia | $43,800 | $52,112 | 1 |
| Hanahan Fire Department · Hanahan | $49,041 | $62,661 | 1 |
| Hardeeville Fire Department · Hardeeville | $56,738 | $87,944 | 1 |
| Lexington County Fire Service · Lexington | $44,346 | Not listed | 1 |
| McEntire Joint National Guard Base Fire Department · Eastover | $55,882 | $72,644 | 1 |
| Moncks Corner Fire Rescue · Moncks Corner | $66,849 | Not listed | 1 |
| North Myrtle Beach Fire-Rescue · North Myrtle Beach | $69,000 | $69,000 | 1 |
| Winnsboro Public Safety · Winnsboro | $55,000 | Not listed | 1 |
| Awendaw District Fire Department · Awendaw | $18.17/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| Bethany-Santiago Volunteer Fire Department · York | $23.85/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| McConnells Volunteer Fire Department · McConnells | $26.29/hr | Not listed | 1 |
| York County Department of Fire Safety · Rock Hill | $23.85/hr | Not listed | 2 |
Figures are as each department listed them in closed postings. Current openings show their pay to FireJobs members.