Benchmark $702/mo · ranked 10 of 23 · median wage $45,950
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The benchmark premium for a 40-year-old in South Carolina is $702 a month for 2027, ranking 10 of 23 states published here. BLS reports a median annual wage of $45,950 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in South Carolina.
Below the cliff. At this income a single-person household remains eligible for a premium tax credit in 2027.
This occupation is below the cliff in all 23 states reported.
What this figure is. It is the median annual wage BLS reports for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (SOC 49-3023) in South Carolina. BLS surveys wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed, so it is a benchmark for the occupation in this state — not the income of a self-employed auto mechanic. Premium tax credit eligibility is set by household modified adjusted gross income and household size, not by occupation, so treat this as a reference point rather than a determination of what you qualify for.
Why the cliff is back. The enhanced premium tax credits expired on 31 December 2025. For plan year 2027 the 400% FPL limit applies again, so household income above $63,840 ends premium tax credit eligibility outright.
Benchmark premium and median wage for this occupation, ranked by premium.
| # | State | Benchmark @40 | Median wage | vs cliff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $491 | $57,560 | below |
| 2 | Indiana | $537 | $47,550 | below |
| 3 | Virginia | $549 | $56,320 | below |
| 4 | Nevada | $565 | $47,570 | below |
| 5 | Michigan | $595 | $48,840 | below |
| 6 | Ohio | $603 | $47,010 | below |
| 7 | Colorado | $615 | $59,340 | below |
| 8 | North Carolina | $660 | $48,530 | below |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $686 | $41,720 | below |
| 10 | South Carolina | $702 | $45,950 | below |
| 11 | South Dakota | $704 | $48,410 | below |
| 12 | Illinois | $707 | $50,450 | below |
| 13 | Alabama | $712 | $45,710 | below |
| 14 | Utah | $716 | $46,990 | below |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $720 | $50,990 | below |
| 16 | Georgia | $733 | $48,800 | below |
| 17 | Texas | $737 | $48,660 | below |
| 18 | Florida | $738 | $48,520 | below |
| 19 | Kansas | $748 | $47,010 | below |
| 20 | Arkansas | $757 | $43,830 | below |
| 21 | Nebraska | $780 | $48,810 | below |
| 22 | Tennessee | $796 | $47,460 | below |
| 23 | Mississippi | $814 | $38,070 | below |
This page compares states. For South Carolina specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — that is published on Coverage by County. To check whether a plan actually covers your hospital, see Plans By City.
← Auto Mechanics in all states · All trades · All occupations
Put your ZIP code in and a licensed agent will show you the carriers filing in your county, what the cheapest plan costs, and what you would actually pay after any help you qualify for. No cost, and you talk to a licensed agent — not a call center.
For 2027, 6 carriers sell marketplace plans across South Carolina’s 46 counties. Which of them sells in your county is what decides your options as an auto mechanic.
In the median South Carolina county the benchmark Silver plan for a 40-year-old is $689 a month for 2027, up 23.9% on 2026, before any tax credit.
Open Enrollment runs from November 1. December 15 is the date that matters: choose by then and cover starts January 1 in South Carolina and every other state.
No PPO is sold anywhere in South Carolina for 2027, so every plan limits care outside its network; check that your doctors are in it before you choose.
The 2027 plans are posted and the deadline for a January 1 start is December 15. Ten minutes with your ZIP code settles which plan still fits.
Enter a ZIP and a licensed agent will tell you three things:
There is no single South Carolina price. Enter your ZIP and a licensed agent will pull what is filed in your county, then work out what help you qualify for.
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