South CarolinaCOL index: 88

Salaries in Columbia, SC

Columbia, South Carolina offers career opportunities with 6.5% state income tax. Browse salary data for every major occupation below — all figures are Columbia-specific, updated quarterly from BLS and H-1B disclosures.

Compare Columbia COL →

Population

131,686

COL index

88 / 100

Avg 1BR rent

$1,100/mo

State income tax

6.5%

Technology salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Software Engineer	$95K	$130K	$165K	$210K	+4.2%
Data Scientist	$100K	$138K	$175K	$220K	+5.1%
Product Manager	$110K	$148K	$190K	$240K	+3.8%
DevOps Engineer	$105K	$140K	$178K	$215K	+6.2%
Cybersecurity Analyst	$85K	$115K	$148K	$185K	+7.3%
UX Designer	$72K	$99K	$130K	$165K	+3.1%
Machine Learning Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$275K	+8.4%
Cloud Architect	$130K	$170K	$215K	$265K	+6.8%
Frontend Developer	$82K	$112K	$145K	$185K	+4.5%
Backend Developer	$90K	$125K	$160K	$200K	+4.3%
Full Stack Developer	$88K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+4.6%
Mobile Developer	$90K	$125K	$162K	$205K	+5.2%
Data Engineer	$98K	$132K	$168K	$210K	+6.5%
Data Analyst	$60K	$82K	$108K	$140K	+4%
Database Administrator	$78K	$105K	$135K	$170K	+2.8%
Systems Administrator	$62K	$86K	$112K	$142K	+2.2%
Network Engineer	$75K	$100K	$130K	$165K	+3%
IT Manager	$100K	$135K	$172K	$215K	+3.5%
Scrum Master	$88K	$115K	$145K	$180K	+3.2%
Solutions Architect	$120K	$158K	$200K	$250K	+5.8%
AI Engineer	$130K	$175K	$225K	$290K	+12%
Blockchain Developer	$110K	$150K	$195K	$250K	+7.5%
QA Engineer	$70K	$95K	$125K	$158K	+3%
Site Reliability Engineer	$115K	$152K	$192K	$238K	+7%
Embedded Systems Engineer	$85K	$112K	$142K	$178K	+3.8%
Technical Writer	$58K	$79K	$102K	$130K	+2.5%
IT Support Specialist	$42K	$58K	$76K	$98K	+2%
Information Security Manager	$115K	$152K	$195K	$245K	+7.8%
Penetration Tester	$88K	$118K	$152K	$195K	+8.2%
Computer Vision Engineer	$120K	$162K	$208K	$265K	+9.5%
NLP Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$272K	+10.2%
Game Developer	$72K	$98K	$132K	$172K	+4.8%
Salesforce Developer	$90K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+5.5%
ERP Consultant	$85K	$115K	$150K	$190K	+3.8%

Healthcare salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Registered Nurse	$60K	$75K	$96K	$120K	+3.5%
Physician Assistant	$99K	$120K	$143K	$170K	+4.8%
Physical Therapist	$69K	$87K	$106K	$129K	+3.2%
Healthcare Administrator	$66K	$96K	$129K	$170K	+4.1%
Nurse Practitioner	$92K	$111K	$133K	$161K	+5.2%
Pharmacist	$109K	$121K	$136K	$152K	+1.2%
Medical Doctor	$179K	$228K	$294K	$386K	+2.8%
Dentist	$136K	$166K	$207K	$267K	+2.5%
Occupational Therapist	$66K	$83K	$101K	$121K	+3.8%
Radiologist	$267K	$350K	$432K	$515K	+2.2%
Surgeon	$258K	$350K	$460K	$598K	+2.5%
Anesthesiologist	$276K	$359K	$442K	$534K	+2.1%
Medical Lab Technician	$39K	$52K	$66K	$83K	+3.2%
Respiratory Therapist	$53K	$66K	$83K	$103K	+3.8%
Speech-Language Pathologist	$63K	$78K	$97K	$118K	+4.2%
Clinical Psychologist	$66K	$87K	$115K	$149K	+3.5%
Psychiatrist	$179K	$228K	$285K	$368K	+3.8%
Medical Coder	$39K	$51K	$64K	$81K	+2.8%
ICU Nurse	$72K	$90K	$112K	$138K	+4%
Surgical Technologist	$41K	$53K	$66K	$83K	+3.5%
Paramedic	$35K	$46K	$60K	$75K	+3.2%
Registered Dietitian	$48K	$63K	$79K	$99K	+3.5%
Optometrist	$103K	$127K	$155K	$193K	+2.8%
Genetic Counselor	$66K	$83K	$101K	$124K	+5.8%

Finance salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Financial Analyst	$61K	$86K	$117K	$162K	+3.6%
Accountant	$50K	$70K	$95K	$126K	+2.2%
Investment Banker	$108K	$162K	$252K	$405K	+3.9%
Actuary	$86K	$113K	$146K	$185K	+5.5%
Financial Advisor	$52K	$86K	$133K	$207K	+3.8%
Portfolio Manager	$104K	$146K	$203K	$288K	+4.2%
Risk Analyst	$61K	$83K	$110K	$142K	+4.5%
Tax Manager	$86K	$115K	$149K	$189K	+3%
Financial Controller	$95K	$126K	$164K	$212K	+3.2%
Chief Financial Officer	$158K	$225K	$324K	$468K	+3.5%
Credit Analyst	$47K	$63K	$83K	$108K	+2.8%
Mortgage Loan Officer	$43K	$65K	$97K	$146K	+2.5%
Compliance Officer	$65K	$88K	$117K	$155K	+4.8%
Hedge Fund Analyst	$104K	$149K	$216K	$342K	+3.5%
Private Equity Analyst	$99K	$142K	$203K	$315K	+4%
Quantitative Analyst	$113K	$155K	$207K	$288K	+6.2%
Bookkeeper	$34K	$43K	$54K	$68K	+1%
Budget Analyst	$56K	$74K	$94K	$117K	+2.5%
Insurance Underwriter	$52K	$70K	$92K	$119K	+2%
Venture Capital Analyst	$86K	$122K	$167K	$234K	+5.5%

Engineering salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Mechanical Engineer	$63K	$84K	$109K	$136K	+2.8%
Petroleum Engineer	$97K	$128K	$165K	$211K	+1.5%
Civil Engineer	$60K	$79K	$104K	$132K	+3.4%
Electrical Engineer	$69K	$92K	$120K	$150K	+3.1%
Chemical Engineer	$70K	$95K	$123K	$157K	+2.5%
Aerospace Engineer	$79K	$107K	$139K	$174K	+3.8%
Industrial Engineer	$63K	$84K	$109K	$139K	+3.5%
Environmental Engineer	$60K	$81K	$106K	$134K	+4.2%
Biomedical Engineer	$63K	$86K	$113K	$143K	+5.2%
Structural Engineer	$62K	$81K	$106K	$134K	+3.2%
Nuclear Engineer	$84K	$110K	$139K	$174K	+2.2%
Materials Engineer	$63K	$86K	$113K	$143K	+3%
Geotechnical Engineer	$60K	$79K	$104K	$132K	+3.5%
Controls Engineer	$69K	$92K	$118K	$148K	+4%
Manufacturing Engineer	$62K	$84K	$107K	$136K	+3.2%
Process Engineer	$63K	$86K	$113K	$143K	+3.5%
Quality Engineer	$57K	$77K	$101K	$130K	+3%

Business salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Marketing Manager	$69K	$97K	$134K	$176K	+3.3%
Human Resources Manager	$66K	$92K	$123K	$158K	+2.9%
Project Manager	$63K	$86K	$116K	$150K	+3.7%
Operations Manager	$60K	$86K	$119K	$158K	+2.5%
Business Analyst	$55K	$75K	$99K	$128K	+3.8%
Management Consultant	$70K	$101K	$143K	$198K	+4.2%
Supply Chain Manager	$69K	$95K	$125K	$160K	+4.5%
Sales Manager	$63K	$92K	$134K	$189K	+3.5%
Account Executive	$48K	$69K	$99K	$143K	+3.8%
Chief Executive Officer	$136K	$207K	$334K	$546K	+3.2%
Chief Operating Officer	$128K	$185K	$282K	$422K	+3%
Chief Marketing Officer	$128K	$185K	$271K	$405K	+3.5%
General Manager	$66K	$95K	$134K	$185K	+2.8%
Logistics Coordinator	$37K	$49K	$63K	$81K	+3.5%
Purchasing Manager	$69K	$95K	$123K	$157K	+2.5%
Digital Marketing Manager	$60K	$84K	$113K	$148K	+5.5%
SEO Specialist	$42K	$57K	$77K	$104K	+5.8%
Content Strategist	$48K	$66K	$88K	$114K	+5.2%
Brand Manager	$63K	$86K	$116K	$151K	+3.5%
Recruiter	$42K	$57K	$77K	$106K	+3.2%
Executive Assistant	$46K	$60K	$77K	$99K	+1.8%
Public Relations Manager	$60K	$84K	$114K	$151K	+3%
Event Planner	$37K	$49K	$66K	$88K	+3.8%

Education salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
K-12 Teacher	$41K	$57K	$75K	$97K	+1.8%
University Professor	$60K	$83K	$120K	$175K	+2.1%
School Principal	$75K	$94K	$115K	$140K	+2.2%
Instructional Designer	$53K	$70K	$90K	$115K	+4.5%
School Counselor	$44K	$57K	$74K	$92K	+3%
Special Education Teacher	$44K	$60K	$77K	$99K	+3.5%
Curriculum Developer	$51K	$66K	$85K	$109K	+3.8%
Education Administrator	$66K	$87K	$112K	$143K	+2.5%
Librarian	$44K	$57K	$74K	$92K	+1.5%
Academic Advisor	$37K	$48K	$63K	$79K	+3%

Legal salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Attorney	$69K	$113K	$183K	$308K	+3.5%
Paralegal	$37K	$49K	$65K	$84K	+3.8%
Corporate Lawyer	$101K	$154K	$246K	$396K	+3.8%
Patent Attorney	$119K	$163K	$218K	$299K	+4.2%
Compliance Lawyer	$88K	$128K	$174K	$233K	+5%
Judge	$84K	$119K	$160K	$211K	+1.5%
Legal Operations Manager	$84K	$114K	$150K	$194K	+6.5%

Construction salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Construction Manager	$70K	$95K	$124K	$162K	+4.5%
Electrician	$47K	$61K	$79K	$104K	+6.2%
Plumber	$47K	$61K	$81K	$106K	+5.5%
HVAC Technician	$43K	$56K	$72K	$92K	+5.8%
Welder	$34K	$45K	$58K	$74K	+3.5%
Carpenter	$38K	$50K	$67K	$86K	+4%
Land Surveyor	$52K	$70K	$92K	$117K	+3.8%
Construction Estimator	$56K	$76K	$99K	$128K	+4.2%

Real Estate salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Real Estate Agent	$38K	$62K	$105K	$180K	+3.5%
Real Estate Broker	$55K	$95K	$162K	$275K	+3.5%
Property Manager	$48K	$65K	$88K	$118K	+3.2%
Real Estate Appraiser	$52K	$72K	$98K	$132K	+2.8%
Commercial Real Estate Analyst	$62K	$88K	$120K	$162K	+4%

Government salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Urban Planner	$57K	$76K	$97K	$124K	+3.8%
Social Worker	$38K	$52K	$68K	$87K	+3.5%
Firefighter	$40K	$55K	$74K	$97K	+2.8%
Police Officer	$46K	$62K	$84K	$109K	+2.5%
Military Officer	$52K	$78K	$109K	$147K	+2%
Public Health Official	$65K	$87K	$114K	$147K	+4.5%
Policy Analyst	$55K	$74K	$97K	$125K	+3.5%
Government Budget Officer	$59K	$78K	$100K	$128K	+2.5%

Science salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Biologist	$50K	$70K	$95K	$126K	+3.5%
Chemist	$52K	$72K	$97K	$128K	+3.2%
Physicist	$70K	$101K	$137K	$180K	+4%
Geologist	$56K	$79K	$106K	$140K	+3.8%
Epidemiologist	$61K	$81K	$106K	$137K	+4.5%
Biochemist	$56K	$79K	$110K	$146K	+4.2%
Environmental Scientist	$50K	$68K	$90K	$119K	+4.8%
Research Scientist	$65K	$88K	$119K	$158K	+4.5%
Pharmaceutical Data Scientist	$95K	$128K	$164K	$205K	+7.5%
Clinical Research Coordinator	$43K	$56K	$72K	$92K	+5.5%
Laboratory Manager	$59K	$79K	$104K	$133K	+3.8%

Creative salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Graphic Designer	$35K	$49K	$66K	$86K	+3%
Art Director	$60K	$84K	$113K	$150K	+2.8%
Video Producer	$40K	$57K	$80K	$113K	+4.2%
Copywriter	$38K	$52K	$71K	$97K	+3.5%
Photographer	$27K	$39K	$57K	$84K	+3%
Animator	$44K	$60K	$82K	$113K	+4.5%
Journalist	$32K	$44K	$60K	$86K	+1.5%
Social Media Manager	$38K	$50K	$69K	$92K	+6.5%
Interior Designer	$35K	$49K	$67K	$91K	+3.2%
Fashion Designer	$40K	$57K	$82K	$122K	+2.5%
Music Producer	$32K	$52K	$88K	$155K	+3.5%
UX Researcher	$69K	$94K	$122K	$155K	+5.5%

Hospitality salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Hotel Manager	$45K	$62K	$84K	$116K	+3.2%
Executive Chef	$45K	$58K	$79K	$110K	+3.8%
Restaurant Manager	$36K	$48K	$64K	$84K	+3.5%
Travel Agent	$30K	$40K	$53K	$73K	+3%
Sommelier	$36K	$50K	$71K	$99K	+3.2%

Retail salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Retail Store Manager	$35K	$49K	$66K	$88K	+2%
Sales Representative	$35K	$52K	$77K	$116K	+3.5%
Retail Buyer	$44K	$60K	$82K	$109K	+2.5%
E-Commerce Manager	$52K	$71K	$97K	$128K	+7.5%
Business Development Manager	$60K	$86K	$118K	$161K	+4.5%

Transportation salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Airline Pilot	$95K	$144K	$212K	$297K	+5.2%
Logistics Manager	$65K	$88K	$117K	$151K	+4.5%
Truck Driver (CDL)	$38K	$47K	$61K	$79K	+4.8%
Transportation Planner	$56K	$74K	$97K	$126K	+4.2%
Fleet Manager	$52K	$70K	$92K	$119K	+4%

Energy salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Energy Engineer	$69K	$92K	$121K	$154K	+6.5%
Solar Installer	$37K	$46K	$60K	$77K	+22%
Wind Turbine Technician	$42K	$53K	$67K	$86K	+45%
Oil & Gas Operations Manager	$97K	$130K	$169K	$218K	+2%
Energy Analyst	$55K	$75K	$99K	$128K	+6%

Nonprofit salaries in Columbia

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Nonprofit Executive Director	$55K	$75K	$104K	$145K	+3.2%
Grant Writer	$42K	$55K	$70K	$90K	+3.5%
Fundraising Manager	$46K	$62K	$84K	$114K	+3.8%
Case Manager	$33K	$44K	$56K	$72K	+3.5%
Community Outreach Coordinator	$33K	$44K	$57K	$74K	+3.8%

Working in Columbia, South Carolina: Salary Guide (2026)

Columbia is home to the Columbia–SC metropolitan area with a population of 131,686. The city has a cost of living index of 88 (US average = 100), meaning salaries go approximately 12% further here than in an average US city.

South Carolina has a 6.5% state income tax rate. When comparing offers with cities in no-income-tax states like Texas, Washington, or Florida, factor in this difference.

Top-paying industries in Columbia

Columbia's economy spans multiple high-wage sectors. The city's diverse employer base creates strong demand across technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services.

View all jobs →