As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Chief Engineer in South Carolina is $277,386, equivalent to $133 per hour, $5,334 weekly, or $23,116 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Chief Engineer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Chief Engineer in South Carolina vary widely, spanning from $226,996 to $310,223. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($251,010) and 75th percentile ($294,574), while top earners (90th percentile) make $310,223 per year. This $43,564 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Leadership or Housekeeping, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, South Carolina Chief Engineer often earn 6.3% lower than national averages due to demand from Fortune 73 companies. However, South Carolina currently ranks 42 nationwide for Chief Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Chief Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $226,996 SC January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $251,010 SC January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $277,386 SC January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $294,574 SC January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Chief Engineer Salary $310,223 SC January 01, 2026
25% $251,010 10% $226,996 90% $310,223 75% $294,574 $277,386 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Chief Engineer jobs in South Carolina

Chief Engineer

Raines Co. - Florence, SC

Chief Engineer

Hilton Garden Inn - Columbia/Harbison - Columbia, SC

Chief Engineer

HMS Hotel of Richburg LLC - Richburg, SC

Chief Engineer - Salaried

Olympia Hospitality - Columbia, SC

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What is a Chief Engineer ?

A chief engineer, commonly referred to as "ChEng" or "Chief", is the seniormost engine officer of an engine department on a ship, typically a merchant ship, and holds overall leadership and responsibility of that department. As a person who holds one of the most senior roles on the ship, he or she must have excellent communication and leadership skills. He or she will be expected to regularly work alongside other crew members and external consultants, and most importantly, provide guidance his or her team. To be a chief engineer, an engineer must attain a chief engineer's license appropriate ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Goose Creek, SC Avg. Salary $295,811 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Abbeville, SC Avg. Salary $286,515 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Adams Run, SC Avg. Salary $294,345 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Aiken, SC Avg. Salary $287,825 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Alcolu, SC Avg. Salary $275,845 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Allendale, SC Avg. Salary $286,515 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Anderson, SC Avg. Salary $286,733 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Andrews, SC Avg. Salary $282,053 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Arcadia, SC Avg. Salary $291,257 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Location Awendaw, SC Avg. Salary $294,064 Date Updated January 01, 2026
Job Openings for Chief Engineer in South Carolina

Jobs with a similar salary range to Chief Engineer : Chief Engineer Officer