Sources: South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources, South Carolina Classified Pay Structure and State Job Classifications; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
South Carolina state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first. These are the ranges South Carolina sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Equipment Operator I Class KD35 · class description Grade GEN04 | $31,314 – $50,082 a year |
| Equipment Operator II Class KD40 · class description Grade GEN05 | $34,476 – $55,182 a year |
| Equipment Operator III Class KD45 · class description Grade GEN06 | $37,944 – $60,690 a year |
Schedule: General Pay Structure (GEN). Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: South Carolina Department of Administration, Division of State Human Resources, South Carolina Classified Pay Structure and State Job Classifications. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in South Carolina, all employers Sourced
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) in South Carolina, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | SC |
|---|---|
| Workers | 8,160 |
| 10th percentile | $38,720 |
| Median | $48,940 |
| 90th percentile | $64,330 |
| National median, government employers | $52,750 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for South Carolina
South Carolina CDL General Knowledge TestSouth Carolina version · free on Open Exam Prep- CDL Air Brakes Knowledge TestPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL) General Knowledge ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Heavy Equipment Operator (government) page.