How much does an engineer make in Columbia?
$114,600a year
Median yearly pay for engineers in the Columbia, SC metro area. That is $55.08 an hour or $9,547 a month.
- Hourly
- $55.08
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 92 of 248
- Jobs in the area
- 130
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $63,280Median: $114,600Highest 10%: $173,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,280 | $30.42 | |
| 25th | $88,610 | $42.60 | |
| Median | $114,600 | $55.08 | |
| 75th | $137,000 | $65.86 | |
| 90th | $173,300 | $83.32 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for engineers.
| Augusta, GA | $135,900 |
| Charleston, SC | $124,300 |
| Charlotte, NC | $118,200 |
| Greenville, SC | $105,400 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $97,130 |
Related jobs in Columbia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $129,800 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $128,300 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $102,300 |
| Electrical Engineer | $101,300 |
| Architect | $100,200 |
| Industrial Engineer | $98,780 |
| Environmental Engineer | $96,140 |
| Civil Engineer | $94,520 |
| Electronics Engineer | $88,380 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician | $72,830 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an engineer make an hour in Columbia?
The median hourly pay in the Columbia, SC metro area is $55.08 ($114,600 a year).
Do engineers make more in Columbia than the national average?
No: $114,600 against $122,900 nationally, 7% less.
How does Columbia compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $110,500, so Columbia pays 4% more.
Where does Columbia rank for engineer pay?
92 of 248 metro areas with data.
How much does an engineer make starting out in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $63,280 or less a year; the top 10% make $173,300 or more.
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.