Firefighter Salary in South Carolina (2026)

Worth knowing: The South Carolina Police Officer Retirement System (PORS) is the structural foundation of SC career firefighter compensation and a feature most national firefighter-career surveys understate for the state. SC PORS (~$10B AUM, the SC public safety pension covering ~28K active + retired firefighters + police + jail officers + corrections + magistrates + coroners statewide) provides defined-benefit protective service pension at 2.14% × years × FAS multiplier (Class III formula post-2012 reforms — substantially less generous than the pre-2012 PORS formula but still appreciably more generous than the general SCRS 1.82% multiplier). PORS normal retirement is available at age 55 with 5+ years or any age with 27+ years — supporting career-fire-service retirement after 25-28 years typical. SC is RTW since 1954 + does NOT recognize public-sector collective bargaining (SC Code §41-29-340) — distinctive structural feature making SC public safety employment substantially different from non-RTW states like OR/MN/WI where IAFF locals operate substantial collective bargaining. IAFF Local 462 Columbia + IAFF Local 61 Charleston + IAFF Local 1115 Greenville operate as professional advocacy organizations with limited bargaining authority — SC firefighter pay is set by municipal councils through public hearings rather than negotiated. Joint Base Charleston Fire + Crash Rescue (federal civilian + supporting the C-17 mass airlift base) anchors SC federal firefighter employment. The 2025 OBBBA No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies to SC firefighter OT premium pay through 2028.