Jobs, pay and daily life in Aiken, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Aiken is a city in South Carolina with 32,521 residents. The median household earns $76,746 a year and the median rent is $1,180 a month, which is 18.5% of the median household income. It is part of the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan area, where BLS counts 231,930 jobs.
How Aiken compares. Among the 80 largest places in South Carolina, Aiken is #16 by population, #14 for college degrees (#1 = most), #59 for long commutes (#1 = fewest), #29 for household income (#1 = highest). Its county, Aiken County, is #4 of 46 counties for average pay ($63,331).
Aiken has 32,521 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.6% of the population of South Carolina. It covers 22 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,495 people per square mile. The median age is 46.6, 16% older than the state median (46.6 against 40.2).
The median gross rent is $1,180 a month (rent plus utilities), about the same as the state median ($1,180 against $1,180). Over a year that is 18.5% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $286,800, which is 3.7 times the median household income ($76,746); a ratio under 4 usually means ownership is within reach for many households. 68.1% of households own their home, 5% below the state average (68.1% against 71.9%).
The Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan area has 231,930 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $45,990 a year, 10% below the national median ($45,990 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (24,580 jobs, median $42,880); food preparation and serving related (22,800 jobs, median $27,850); sales and related (20,410 jobs, median $31,090). The area is most specialised in architecture and engineering (1.7 times) and production (1.4 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($111,780) and architecture and engineering ($103,010). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Aiken County was 3.6%. 52.9% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Aiken County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 77.2% drive alone, 0.7% use public transit, 1.3% walk, 12.2% work from home. 14.2% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 3% below the state average (14.2% against 14.7%).
47.7% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 48% above the state share (47.7% against 32.1%). 3.3% of residents were born outside the United States, 43% below the state share (3.3% against 5.8%). The poverty rate is 17.0%, 21% above the state rate (17.0% against 14.1%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 83°F (28.1°C), and the coolest is Jan at 44°F (6.7°C). About 1,144 mm (45 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jun is the wettest month (122 mm) and Oct the driest (72 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: North Augusta (13 miles, similar rent); Martinez (22 miles, rent 9% higher); Augusta (23 miles, rent 3% lower); Evans (24 miles, rent 37% higher). Rent differences are against Aiken; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in South Carolina (373) →State guide: South CarolinaCountry guideAiken CountySouth Carolina rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 373 federal postings open in South Carolina (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in South Carolina →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 8,710 | 1.52 | $26,620 | $20,890 | $34,380 | -15% |
| Retail Salespersons | 6,930 | 1.19 | $29,350 | $22,220 | $44,450 | -17% |
| Registered Nurses | 6,880 | 1.36 | $87,760 | $69,760 | $116,640 | -10% |
| Cashiers | 6,040 | 1.31 | $28,310 | $21,890 | $33,980 | -14% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,230 | 0.81 | $102,360 | $46,120 | $212,280 | -3% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 3,920 | 0.61 | $28,730 | $23,620 | $40,140 | -20% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 3,900 | 0.89 | $36,640 | $28,930 | $47,440 | -9% |
| Office Clerks, General | 3,850 | 1.05 | $39,530 | $26,460 | $54,340 | -12% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 3,820 | 1.13 | $18,390 | $15,080 | $47,390 | -48% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 3,790 | 0.90 | $34,160 | $29,230 | $45,150 | -8% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 3,620 | 0.94 | $39,570 | $29,230 | $56,390 | -12% |
| Security Guards | 3,370 | 1.76 | $33,450 | $28,360 | $47,260 | -12% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 3,350 | 1.02 | $30,630 | $23,330 | $41,240 | -17% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 3,250 | 1.06 | $47,920 | $37,240 | $75,390 | -18% |
| Nursing Assistants | 2,560 | 1.18 | $37,140 | $28,990 | $44,100 | -12% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 2,400 | 1.16 | $63,000 | $47,630 | $77,330 | -2% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 2,390 | 1.05 | $46,130 | $30,550 | $74,140 | -7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 2,360 | 1.29 | $37,120 | $28,360 | $59,690 | -16% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 2,330 | 1.11 | $37,350 | $30,310 | $47,580 | -16% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 2,260 | 0.89 | $41,600 | $25,400 | $63,490 | -12% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 740 | 1.44 | $258,650 | $74,940 | $398,530 | -3% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 510 | 1.55 | $171,720 | $137,760 | $259,800 | +0% |
| Sales Managers | 500 | 0.53 | $138,690 | $66,730 | $256,160 | -6% |
| Pharmacists | 620 | 1.29 | $131,630 | $101,220 | $162,080 | -7% |
| Financial Managers | 600 | 0.48 | $129,180 | $76,840 | $230,530 | -22% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 980 | 2.21 | $128,740 | $81,940 | $193,050 | +24% |
| Lawyers | 630 | 0.56 | $123,960 | $74,880 | $202,780 | -22% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 730 | 0.82 | $120,700 | $77,200 | $181,480 | -3% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 500 | 1.04 | $120,270 | $99,290 | $151,200 | -9% |
| Software Developers | 910 | 0.36 | $119,780 | $77,130 | $176,000 | -12% |
| Managers, All Other | 920 | 0.99 | $118,300 | $64,170 | $190,420 | -17% |
| Construction Managers | 770 | 1.35 | $108,110 | $73,420 | $189,900 | -6% |
| Industrial Engineers | 700 | 1.29 | $106,860 | $78,030 | $135,600 | +4% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 1,160 | 1.79 | $106,640 | $60,430 | $162,090 | -9% |
| Civil Engineers | 2,000 | 3.65 | $103,010 | $77,000 | $164,890 | +2% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,230 | 0.81 | $102,360 | $46,120 | $212,280 | -3% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,460 | 0.91 | $101,280 | $58,050 | $205,350 | -1% |
| Management Analysts | 1,160 | 0.87 | $87,920 | $55,940 | $134,880 | -14% |
| Registered Nurses | 6,880 | 1.36 | $87,760 | $69,760 | $116,640 | -10% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 710 | 2.15 | $85,620 | $68,330 | $311,790 | -20% |
These figures are for the whole Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $45,990 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.0% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 16.1% |
| Retail trade | 11.2% |
| Manufacturing | 10.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.8% |
| Public administration | 7.8% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 7.1% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 5.2% |
| Construction | 3.0% |
| Other services | 2.4% |
| Information | 2.1% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 1.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.0% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Aiken lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiken County | 174,160 | $10,365 million | $59,513 | 65,165 | 3,807 | $63,331 | +1.9% | 3.6% | 80,978 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative and waste services | 10,042 | 17.4% | $89,264 | 2.62 |
| Manufacturing | 8,966 | 15.5% | $76,117 | 1.67 |
| Retail trade | 7,522 | 13.0% | $32,690 | 1.16 |
| Health care and social assistance | 7,128 | 12.4% | $49,485 | 0.76 |
| Accommodation and food services | 6,285 | 10.9% | $20,431 | 1.06 |
| Construction | 6,102 | 10.6% | $86,755 | 1.78 |
| Professional and technical services | 3,687 | 6.4% | $106,597 | 0.81 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 1,725 | 3.0% | $60,011 | 0.63 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 1,509 | 2.6% | $44,175 | 0.77 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 1,110 | 1.9% | $24,137 | 1.01 |
| Finance and insurance | 1,041 | 1.8% | $77,744 | 0.39 |
| Wholesale trade | 632 | 1.1% | $78,958 | 0.25 |
| Real estate and rental | 428 | 0.7% | $53,307 | 0.42 |
| Utilities | 361 | 0.6% | $121,666 | 1.46 |
| Information | 346 | 0.6% | $74,256 | 0.28 |
| Educational services | 312 | 0.5% | $45,253 | 0.23 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing | 240 | 0.4% | $50,175 | 0.46 |
| Mining, oil and gas | 134 | 0.2% | $80,178 | 0.54 |
| Management of companies | 103 | 0.2% | $88,818 | 0.09 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 77.2% |
| Public transit | 0.7% |
| Walk | 1.3% |
| Work from home | 12.2% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 14.2% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $76,746 |
| Income per person | $45,554 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,180 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 18.5% |
| Median home value | $286,800 |
| Homeowners | 68.1% |
| Poverty rate | 17.0% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 91.9 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $45,990 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 6.00%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 46.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 94.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 47.7% |
| Born abroad | 3.3% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 52.9% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.7 | 44 | 79 |
| Feb | 8.7 | 48 | 95 |
| Mar | 12.8 | 55 | 99 |
| Apr | 17.6 | 64 | 79 |
| May | 22.6 | 73 | 89 |
| Jun | 26.4 | 80 | 122 |
| Jul | 28.1 | 83 | 118 |
| Aug | 27.4 | 81 | 115 |
| Sep | 24.4 | 76 | 90 |
| Oct | 18.8 | 66 | 72 |
| Nov | 12.6 | 55 | 75 |
| Dec | 8.7 | 48 | 111 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Augusta | SC | 13 mi | 25,653 | $86,092 | $1,169 |
| Martinez | GA | 22 mi | 33,750 | $81,602 | $1,284 |
| Augusta | GA | 23 mi | 201,528 | $55,485 | $1,142 |
| Evans | GA | 24 mi | 36,998 | $125,098 | $1,617 |
| Grovetown | GA | 28 mi | 17,014 | $85,660 | $1,407 |
| White Knoll | SC | 37 mi | 8,310 | $80,246 | $1,180 |
| Red Bank | SC | 39 mi | 11,314 | $68,004 | $1,160 |
| Lexington | SC | 43 mi | 24,585 | $87,126 | $1,545 |
| Oak Grove | SC | 45 mi | 12,256 | $74,554 | $1,045 |
| West Columbia | SC | 48 mi | 17,963 | $56,912 | $1,201 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
32,521 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,180 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 18.5% of the median household income.
$76,746 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.6% (BLS county, Aiken County (latest month 2026M09)).
South Carolina. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.