Firefighter salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
Firefighters in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area earn a median of $50,210 a year ($24.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 640 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,100 for the top 10%. That is 15% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 18% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $42,570. There are 7.8 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $52,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| 25th percentile | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Median | $50,210 | $24.14 |
| 75th percentile | $60,860 | $29.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,100 | $36.11 |
| Average (mean) | $52,020 | $25.01 |
Half of firefighters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,184.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,092.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,931.15 |
| Weekly | $965.58 |
| Hourly | $24.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,210 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Firefighter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $47,540 | 510 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,830 | 1,470 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,890 | 820 |
| Sumter, SC | $43,890 | 90 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,980 | 1,290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,700 | 4,700 |
| Columbia, SC | $36,960 | 1,060 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $36,360 | 620 |
| Florence, SC | $32,570 | 340 |
Highest-paying states for firefighters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 |
| Colorado | $74,170 |
| Maryland | $73,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,240 | $28.48 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $57,100 | $27.45 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $83,780 | $40.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $104,880 | $50.42 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
The median salary for firefighters in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area is $50,210 a year, or $24.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $75,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area earn at least $75,100 a year. The top 25% earn $60,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,810 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $38,130 or less.
How many firefighters work in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC?
About 640 firefighters are employed in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.