Top Paying Jobs in Columbia, SC
Columbia, SC has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 47,460 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Physicians, All Other ($374,300), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($296,020), Anesthesiologists ($290,620). The cost of living index is 93.66 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,276/month.
$119K
Avg. median salary
93.66
Cost of living index
$1,276
Median 2BR rent
N/A
Population
Highest paying careers in Columbia
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Nurse Practitioners | Healthcare | $118K | $56.96/hr |
| 32 | Physician Assistants | Healthcare | $116K | $55.69/hr |
| 33 | Transportation Inspectors | Transportation | $115K | $55.39/hr |
| 34 | Engineers, All Other | Engineering | $115K | $55.08/hr |
| 35 | Purchasing Managers | Management | $113K | $54.1/hr |
| 36 | Construction Managers | Management | $112K | $53.93/hr |
| 37 | Human Resources Managers | Management | $109K | $52.62/hr |
| 38 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | Sales | $109K | $52.44/hr |
| 39 | Sales Engineers | Sales | $109K | $52.32/hr |
| 40 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Management | $107K | $51.58/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Columbia
Cost of living vs. national average-6.3% less expensive
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,276/mo
Planning a move? Compare costs with other locations:
Compare Columbia to other cities
Side-by-side salary and cost of living comparison
Remote work salary calculator
See what your salary is worth in Columbia
Calculate take-home pay in Columbia
After federal and state taxes
Can you afford a 2-bedroom in Columbia?
Salary thresholds by HUD rent data
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Columbia?
Monthly budget breakdown with HUD and BLS data
