Childcare Workers Salary in Columbia, SC
Childcare Workers in Columbia, SC make a median of $28,410 a year, or about $13.66 an hour. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $35K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $30,333 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month — about 63.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $28K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About childcare workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level childcare workers (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $35K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Childcare Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $45K | +42% | 1,010 |
| Massachusetts | $39K | +23% | 12,370 |
| California | $38K | +19% | 47,190 |
| Vermont | $38K | +18% | 1,120 |
| Washington | $38K | +18% | 4,300 |
| New York | $37K | +14% | 42,780 |
| Hawaii | $36K | +14% | 1,860 |
| Oregon | $36K | +13% | 4,230 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +10% | 9,630 |
| Maryland | $35K | +10% | 8,910 |
| Arizona | $35K | +10% | 6,190 |
| Alaska | $35K | +9% | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | +9% | 2,390 |
| Maine | $35K | +8% | 4,110 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | +8% | 2,530 |
| New Jersey | $34K | +7% | 23,680 |
| New Mexico | $34K | +7% | 3,460 |
| Minnesota | $34K | +5% | 10,910 |
| Illinois | $33K | +3% | 22,540 |
| Montana | $31K | -2% | 2,070 |
| Florida | $31K | -4% | 21,790 |
| Utah | $31K | -4% | 3,910 |
| North Dakota | $30K | -5% | 3,870 |
| Virginia | $30K | -6% | 14,150 |
| Delaware | $30K | -6% | 1,270 |
| Missouri | $30K | -7% | 10,600 |
| Wisconsin | $30K | -7% | 3,910 |
| Indiana | $29K | -8% | 8,790 |
| Michigan | $29K | -9% | 14,760 |
| Nevada | $29K | -9% | 3,150 |
| Idaho | $29K | -9% | 5,500 |
| Tennessee | $29K | -9% | 13,190 |
| Nebraska | $29K | -10% | 9,070 |
| Kansas | $29K | -10% | 7,180 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -11% | 7,510 |
| Texas | $29K | -11% | 45,020 |
| North Carolina | $28K | -11% | 12,200 |
| South Carolina | $28K | -11% | 11,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $28K | -12% | 14,410 |
| Ohio | $28K | -12% | 12,580 |
| Georgia | $28K | -13% | 25,650 |
| Iowa | $28K | -13% | 5,870 |
| Wyoming | $28K | -14% | 1,330 |
| Arkansas | $27K | -15% | 6,200 |
| South Dakota | $27K | -16% | 2,640 |
| Oklahoma | $26K | -18% | 9,550 |
| West Virginia | $24K | -26% | 1,500 |
| Alabama | $22K | -30% | 4,880 |
| Louisiana | $22K | -31% | 9,150 |
| Mississippi | $22K | -32% | 4,920 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track childcare workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do childcare workers make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $28,410 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,230, and experienced childcare workers can clear $35,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,046/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 62.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a childcare workers salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median childcare workers salary is worth about $30,333 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do childcare workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.