What is the average salary in Columbia, SC?

$58,250a year

Average yearly pay across 511 jobs with official data in the Columbia, SC metro area, weighted by employment. Each job below shows its median.

Hourly: $28.01
Jobs with data: 511
Workers counted: 383,170

Highest paying jobs

Median yearly pay.

Physician	$374,300
Obstetrician and Gynecologist	$296,000
Anesthesiologist	$290,600
Nurse Anesthetist	$271,400
Psychiatrist	$251,100
Surgeon	$239,200
Dentist	$228,800
Family Medicine Physician	$224,400
Chief Executive	$176,900
Architectural and Engineering Manager	$162,300

Most common jobs

Median yearly pay.

Fast Food and Counter Worker	$27,170
Retail Salesperson	$29,540
Customer Service Representative	$37,430
Stocker and Order Filler	$37,180
Laborer and Freight	$37,530
Registered Nurse	$81,920
Cashier	$27,830
Home Health and Personal Care Aide	$30,210
Office Clerk	$38,320
Secretary and Administrative Assistant	$45,620

Management

Administrative Services Manager$126,700
Advertising and Promotions Manager$160,000
Architectural and Engineering Manager$162,300
Chief Executive$176,900
Compensation and Benefits Manager$73,870
Computer and Information Systems Manager$141,600
Construction Manager$112,200
Education Administrator$101,800
Education Administrator$101,200
Education Administrator$100,400
Education and Childcare Administrator$46,510
Emergency Management Director$71,110
Entertainment and Recreation Manager$66,400
Facilities Manager$98,020
Financial Manager$124,800
Food Service Manager$60,860
Fundraising Manager$103,600
General and Operations Manager$104,000
Human Resources Manager$109,400
Industrial Production Manager$128,100
Lodging Manager$56,850
Manager$130,000
Marketing Manager$136,900
Medical and Health Services Manager$107,300
Natural Sciences Manager$122,900
Property$59,540
Public Relations Manager$91,550
Purchasing Manager$112,500
Sales Manager$128,700
Social and Community Service Manager$78,240
Training and Development Manager$104,500
Transportation$101,000

Business and financial operations

Accountant and Auditor$69,210
Budget Analyst$82,980
Business Operations Specialist$77,400
Buyer and Purchasing Agent$71,820
Claims Adjuster$67,290
Compensation$56,440
Compliance Officer$72,990
Cost Estimator$65,850
Credit Analyst$81,740
Financial and Investment Analyst$87,630
Financial Examiner$90,260
Financial Risk Specialist$94,620
Financial Specialist$65,170
Fundraiser$62,720
Human Resources Specialist$67,990
Insurance Appraiser$81,830
Insurance Underwriter$75,290
Labor Relations Specialist$71,620
Loan Officer$64,660
Logistician$75,800
Management Analyst$93,250
Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist$68,600
Meeting$47,830
Personal Financial Advisor$94,130
Project Management Specialist$85,260
Property Appraiser and Assessor$59,110
Tax Examiner and Collector$73,210
Tax Preparer$36,150
Training and Development Specialist$61,460

Computer and mathematical

Actuary$133,100
Computer Network Architect$125,500
Computer Network Support Specialist$76,560
Computer Occupation$91,920
Computer Programmer$98,490
Computer Systems Analyst$90,760
Computer User Support Specialist$50,080
Data Scientist$88,260
Database Administrator$83,330
Database Architect$135,800
Information Security Analyst$101,300
Network and Computer Systems Administrator$86,650
Operations Research Analyst$79,560
Software Developer$123,400
Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester$86,320
Statistician$67,630
Web and Digital Interface Designer$80,930

Architecture and engineering

Architect$100,200
Architectural and Civil Drafter$64,110
Civil Engineer$94,520
Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician$57,640
Computer Hardware Engineer$129,800
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician$65,400
Electrical and Electronics Drafter$74,590
Electrical Engineer$101,300
Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologist and Technician$63,250
Electronics Engineer$88,380
Engineer$114,600
Engineering Technologist and Technician$93,640
Environmental Engineer$96,140
Environmental Engineering Technologist and Technician$62,320
Health and Safety Engineer$72,780
Industrial Engineer$98,780
Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician$63,960
Materials Engineer$121,300
Mechanical Drafter$61,300
Mechanical Engineer$102,300
Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician$72,830
Nuclear Engineer$128,300
Surveying and Mapping Technician$45,370
Surveyor$66,580

Life, physical, and social science

Chemical Technician$64,740
Chemist$73,430
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$99,960
Conservation Scientist$45,910
Environmental Science and Protection Technician$51,290
Environmental Scientist and Specialist$85,300
Forensic Science Technician$45,990
Forester$89,990
Geoscientist$88,290
Hydrologist$65,770
Life$51,840
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist$79,160
Occupational Health and Safety Technician$50,900
Psychologist$130,600
School Psychologist$81,370
Social Science Research Assistant$62,090
Social Scientist and Related Worker$83,780
Urban and Regional Planner$71,910
Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist$79,580

Community and social service

Child$50,610
Clergy$57,990
Community and Social Service Specialist$53,710
Community Health Worker$45,820
Director$39,210
Educational$60,070
Health Education Specialist$62,960
Healthcare Social Worker$62,130
Marriage and Family Therapist$49,340
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$48,250
Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist$62,830
Rehabilitation Counselor$35,880
Social and Human Service Assistant$38,550
Social Worker$100,400
Substance Abuse$58,920

Legal

Educational instruction and library

Adult Basic Education$63,020
Art$78,880
Biological Science Teacher$97,550
Business Teacher$129,400
Career/Technical Education Teacher$79,860
Career/Technical Education Teacher$65,010
Chemistry Teacher$102,700
Communications Teacher$80,290
Computer Science Teacher$102,400
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teacher$77,120
Curator$56,270
Education Teacher$78,880
Educational Instruction and Library Worker$71,280
Elementary School Teacher$60,050
English Language and Literature Teacher$78,360
Health Specialties Teacher$102,900
History Teacher$104,100
Instructional Coordinator$61,640
Kindergarten Teacher$60,880
Librarian and Media Collections Specialist$61,290
Library Technician$35,990
Middle School Teacher$59,400
Nursing Instructor and Teacher$101,300
Philosophy and Religion Teacher$76,480
Political Science Teacher$101,200
Postsecondary Teacher$80,010
Preschool Teacher$31,510
Psychology Teacher$100,300
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teacher$99,340
Secondary School Teacher$60,280
Self-Enrichment Teacher$36,550
Special Education Teacher$59,360
Special Education Teacher$63,270
Special Education Teacher$58,900
Special Education Teacher$58,860
Substitute Teacher$39,250
Teacher and Instructor$62,330
Teaching Assistant$37,710
Teaching Assistant$27,860
Tutor$33,780

Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media

Art Director$87,990
Audio and Video Technician$57,580
Broadcast Technician$50,920
Coach and Scout$47,050
Commercial and Industrial Designer$74,960
Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner$60,380
Editor$67,530
Floral Designer$27,830
Graphic Designer$55,690
Interior Designer$62,720
Interpreter and Translator$52,200
Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$36,870
News Analyst$49,450
Photographer$36,060
Producer and Director$50,430
Public Relations Specialist$61,610
Technical Writer$77,640
Writer and Author$41,600

Healthcare practitioners and technical

Anesthesiologist$290,600
Athletic Trainer$58,170
Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician$65,590
Chiropractor$74,090
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician$55,280
Dental Hygienist$82,370
Dentist$228,800
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$84,440
Dietetic Technician$37,500
Dietitian and Nutritionist$68,080
Emergency Medical Technician$42,290
Exercise Physiologist$48,800
Family Medicine Physician$224,400
Health Information Technologist and Medical Registrar$49,290
Health Technologist and Technician$44,090
Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Worker$36,600
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse$62,110
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist$85,560
Medical Records Specialist$62,650
Nuclear Medicine Technologist$87,480
Nurse Anesthetist$271,400
Nurse Practitioner$118,500
Obstetrician and Gynecologist$296,000
Occupational Therapist$102,700
Ophthalmic Medical Technician$38,570
Optician$46,150
Optometrist$156,400
Paramedic$53,160
Pharmacist$133,900
Pharmacy Technician$39,170
Physical Therapist$99,840
Physician$374,300
Physician Assistant$115,800
Psychiatric Technician$39,980
Psychiatrist$251,100
Radiologic Technologist and Technician$74,080
Recreational Therapist$43,730
Registered Nurse$81,920
Respiratory Therapist$79,780
Speech-Language Pathologist$87,820
Surgeon$239,200
Surgical Assistant$48,160
Surgical Technologist$61,230
Veterinarian$130,000
Veterinary Technologist and Technician$38,390

Healthcare support

Dental Assistant$46,800
Healthcare Support Worker$49,730
Home Health and Personal Care Aide$30,210
Massage Therapist$59,310
Medical Assistant$40,680
Medical Equipment Preparer$44,180
Medical Transcriptionist$37,480
Nursing Assistant$37,400
Occupational Therapy Assistant$74,330
Pharmacy Aide$35,570
Phlebotomist$40,210
Physical Therapist Aide$35,740
Physical Therapist Assistant$62,920
Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$36,680

Protective service

Animal Control Worker$41,740
Correctional Officer and Jailer$44,860
Crossing Guard and Flagger$32,690
Detective and Criminal Investigator$66,340
Firefighter$36,960
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officer$85,820
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Worker$61,830
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective$73,450
First-Line Supervisors of Security Worker$43,140
Lifeguard$26,720
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer$59,260
Private Detective and Investigator$48,000
Protective Service Worker$51,630
School Bus Monitor$27,780
Security Guard$35,140
Transportation Security Screener$64,150

Food preparation and serving

Bartender$19,230
Chef and Head Cook$69,820
Cook$22,880
Cook$34,800
Cook$35,490
Cook$27,540
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper$31,050
Dishwasher$28,180
Fast Food and Counter Worker$27,170
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker$37,880
Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker$20,920
Food Preparation Worker$30,260
Food Server$31,400
Host and Hostess$23,070
Waiter and Waitress$17,810

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Worker$45,380
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping$60,100
Janitor and Cleaner$32,170
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker$36,180
Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner$29,590
Pest Control Worker$44,620
Pesticide Handler$42,510
Tree Trimmer and Pruner$40,190

Personal care and service

Amusement and Recreation Attendant$25,720
Animal Caretaker$30,720
Animal Trainer$29,670
Childcare Worker$28,850
Concierge$30,980
Embalmer$61,880
Exercise Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor$45,870
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Worker$48,020
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Worker$42,770
Funeral Attendant$28,870
Hairdresser$30,710
Mortician$48,130
Recreation Worker$30,140
Residential Advisor$39,660
Skincare Specialist$37,870
Tour and Travel Guide$30,320
Usher$22,400

Sales and related

Advertising Sales Agent$49,500
Cashier$27,830
Counter and Rental Clerk$36,900
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Worker$75,630
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Worker$47,680
Insurance Sales Agent$74,100
Parts Salesperson$34,310
Real Estate Sales Agent$49,480
Retail Salesperson$29,540
Sale and Related Worker$36,880
Sales Engineer$108,800
Sales Representative$109,100
Sales Representative$62,470
Sales Representatives of Service$48,570
Security$58,890
Telemarketer$36,100
Travel Agent$31,650

Office and administrative support

Bill and Account Collector$39,370
Billing and Posting Clerk$46,370
Bookkeeping$46,690
Brokerage Clerk$60,620
Cargo and Freight Agent$55,070
Courier and Messenger$37,550
Court$48,220
Customer Service Representative$37,430
Data Entry Keyer$36,230
Dispatcher$47,550
Eligibility Interviewer$39,630
Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant$56,230
File Clerk$37,510
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Worker$62,230
Hotel$29,240
Human Resources Assistant$45,410
Information and Record Clerk$50,940
Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk$38,760
Interviewer$39,170
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant$58,520
Library Assistant$33,200
Loan Interviewer and Clerk$51,270
Mail Clerk and Mail Machine Operator$36,440
Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant$40,160
Meter Reader$43,270
Office and Administrative Support Worker$51,630
Office Clerk$38,320
Order Clerk$45,320
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk$52,240
Postal Service Clerk$62,130
Postal Service Mail Carrier$55,610
Postal Service Mail Sorter$58,470
Procurement Clerk$52,210
Production$60,090
Public Safety Telecommunicator$40,930
Receptionist and Information Clerk$35,530
Secretary and Administrative Assistant$45,620
Shipping$41,240
Switchboard Operator$32,890
Teller$43,560
Weigher$44,690

Farming, fishing, and forestry

Agricultural Equipment Operator$31,820
First-Line Supervisors of Farming$57,340
Grader and Sorter$34,510
Logging Equipment Operator$49,350

Construction and extraction

Brickmason and Blockmason$48,590
Carpenter$48,070
Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher$50,680
Construction and Building Inspector$62,410
Construction Laborer$42,630
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installer$44,800
Electrician$60,390
Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer$80,830
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operator$54,370
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker$72,800
Glazier$51,310
Hazardous Materials Removal Worker$47,380
Helpers--Carpenter$35,850
Helpers--Electrician$37,670
Helpers--Pipelayer$38,830
Insulation Worker$50,750
Insulation Worker$46,970
Miscellaneous Construction and Related Worker$45,660
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator$48,410
Painter$46,740
Paving$45,960
Pipelayer$44,190
Plumber$52,070
Roofer$44,660
Sheet Metal Worker$50,170
Structural Iron and Steel Worker$50,510

Installation, maintenance, and repair

Aircraft Mechanic and Service Technician$73,110
Audiovisual Equipment Installer and Repairer$44,240
Automotive Body and Related Repairer$48,340
Automotive Glass Installer and Repairer$46,170
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic$48,080
Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist$60,320
Coin$49,970
Computer$37,320
Control and Valve Installer and Repairer$67,630
Electrical and Electronics Repairer$68,100
Electrical and Electronics Repairer$95,740
Electrical Power-Line Installer and Repairer$74,190
Electronic Equipment Installer and Repairer$49,530
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanic$74,040
Heating$57,610
Helpers--Installation$39,170
Home Appliance Repairer$46,430
Industrial Machinery Mechanic$64,680
Installation$39,270
Maintenance and Repair Worker$46,870
Maintenance Worker$64,910
Mechanical Door Repairer$49,510
Medical Equipment Repairer$45,580
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanic$59,180
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanic$46,730
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer$60,310
Telecommunications Equipment Installer and Repairer$75,710
Tire Repairer and Changer$35,220

Production

Baker$33,800
Butcher and Meat Cutter$37,350
Cabinetmaker and Bench Carpenter$49,160
Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender$57,870
Cleaning$34,140
Coating$44,810
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator$51,530
Crushing$48,400
Cutting$43,790
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setter$47,760
Electrical$39,560
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter$56,430
Extruding and Forming Machine Setter$46,160
Fiberglass Laminator and Fabricator$44,950
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Worker$76,420
Food and Tobacco Roasting$36,420
Food Batchmaker$38,900
Food Processing Worker$35,980
Gas Plant Operator$81,960
Grinding$45,780
Grinding and Polishing Worker$45,710
Helpers--Production Worker$37,320
Inspector$48,310
Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter$45,040
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$29,830
Machinist$59,570
Meat$35,660
Metal Worker and Plastic Worker$47,050
Milling and Planing Machine Setter$39,010
Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator$42,230
Mixing and Blending Machine Setter$50,430
Molder$44,790
Molding$55,670
Multiple Machine Tool Setter$38,040
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician$36,400
Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender$41,340
Paper Goods Machine Setter$51,010
Plant and System Operator$70,620
Power Distributor and Dispatcher$101,000
Power Plant Operator$79,600
Prepress Technician and Worker$43,400
Printing Press Operator$44,250
Production Worker$39,600
Sawing Machine Setter$40,620
Separating$49,320
Sewing Machine Operator$44,810
Slaughterer and Meat Packer$46,170
Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator$64,930
Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter$46,910
Tailor$36,690
Textile$46,370
Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setter$38,380
Textile Winding$36,320
Tool and Die Maker$70,620
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator$55,070
Welder$49,730
Woodworking Machine Setter$38,530

Transportation and material moving

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor$61,470
Ambulance Driver and Attendant$29,000
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant$29,640
Bus Driver$36,960
Bus Driver$44,750
Cleaners of Vehicle and Equipment$34,380
Commercial Pilot$92,300
Conveyor Operator and Tender$37,230
Crane and Tower Operator$65,870
Driver/Sales Worker$22,900
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker$62,860
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver$51,280
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$43,500
Laborer and Freight$37,530
Light Truck Driver$37,600
Packer and Packager$31,240
Parking Attendant$29,560
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$34,800
Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur$29,560
Stocker and Order Filler$37,180
Traffic Technician$57,080
Transportation Inspector$115,200

Frequently asked questions

What is the average salary in Columbia, SC?

About $58,250 a year ($28.01 an hour): the average of the 511 jobs with official data, weighted by how many people do each one.

What are the highest paying jobs in Columbia, SC?

Physician ($374,300), Obstetrician and Gynecologist ($296,000), Anesthesiologist ($290,600).

What are the most common jobs in Columbia, SC?

Fast Food and Counter Worker (11,640 jobs), Retail Salesperson (10,860 jobs), Customer Service Representative (10,430 jobs).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.