Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products Salary
The median pay for a graders and sorters, agricultural products in Columbia, SC is $34,510/year ($16.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $42K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $36,846 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month, about 54.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K 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 graders and sorters, agricultural products
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What this looks like in Columbia
Graders and sorters, agricultural products pay in Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $35K locally vs. $36K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,276/month, which is 52.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for graders and sorters, agricultural products in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Gainesville | $35K | $36K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $36K | $36K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level graders and sorters, agricultural products (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $42K or more, a $8K spread from bottom to top.
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $49K | +36% | 230 |
| Minnesota | $48K | +33% | 30 |
| Maine | $46K | +28% | 40 |
| North Dakota | $46K | +28% | 260 |
| Nebraska | $46K | +28% | 330 |
| Utah | $43K | +20% | 100 |
| Iowa | $42K | +19% | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $42K | +17% | 40 |
| Maryland | $42K | +17% | 430 |
| Illinois | $42K | +17% | 220 |
| South Dakota | $40K | +12% | 380 |
| Michigan | $39K | +10% | 100 |
| Ohio | $39K | +8% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | +8% | 970 |
| Kansas | $38K | +7% | 160 |
| New Jersey | $38K | +6% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $37K | +4% | 160 |
| Tennessee | $37K | +3% | 640 |
| California | $36K | +2% | 5,750 |
| Louisiana | $36K | +1% | 280 |
| Texas | $36K | +1% | 1,950 |
| Missouri | $36K | +0% | 530 |
| Georgia | $35K | -1% | 1,700 |
| Alabama | $35K | -1% | 840 |
| Arkansas | $35K | -1% | 1,650 |
| Washington | $35K | -2% | 2,830 |
| Virginia | $35K | -2% | 230 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -3% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -3% | 260 |
| Oregon | $35K | -3% | 730 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -3% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $33K | -7% | 110 |
| Arizona | $32K | -11% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $30K | -15% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $30K | -16% | 1,140 |
| Idaho | $28K | -23% | 600 |
| Florida | $27K | -23% | 880 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track graders and sorters, agricultural products salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a graders and sorters, agricultural product afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 52.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for graders and sorters, agricultural products in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new graders and sorters, agricultural products typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,071/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is graders and sorters, agricultural product a high-paying job in Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $35K locally vs. $36K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for graders and sorters, agricultural products?
Columbia pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do graders and sorters, agricultural products make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $34,510 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,510, and experienced graders and sorters, agricultural products can clear $42,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,432/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 52.5% 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 graders and sorters, agricultural products 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 graders and sorters, agricultural products salary is worth about $36,846 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do graders and sorters, agricultural products 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.