How much does a mechanical engineer make in Columbia?
$102,300a year
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers in the Columbia, SC metro area. That is $49.17 an hour or $8,523 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.17
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 120 of 346
- Jobs in the area
- 450
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $72,120Median: $102,300Highest 10%: $150,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $72,120 | $34.67 | |
| 25th | $80,550 | $38.73 | |
| Median | $102,300 | $49.17 | |
| 75th | $127,200 | $61.16 | |
| 90th | $150,600 | $72.42 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for mechanical engineers.
| Augusta, GA | $128,700 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $120,100 |
| Charleston, SC | $110,800 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $105,000 |
| Florence, SC | $103,800 |
| Charlotte, NC | $102,000 |
| Greenville, SC | $101,600 |
Related jobs in Columbia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $129,800 |
| Nuclear Engineer | $128,300 |
| Engineer | $114,600 |
| 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 a mechanical engineer make an hour in Columbia?
The median hourly pay in the Columbia, SC metro area is $49.17 ($102,300 a year).
Do mechanical engineers make more in Columbia than the national average?
No: $102,300 against $104,100 nationally, 2% less.
How does Columbia compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $104,600, so Columbia pays 2% less.
Where does Columbia rank for mechanical engineer pay?
120 of 346 metro areas with data.
How much does a mechanical engineer make starting out in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $72,120 or less a year; the top 10% make $150,600 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.