Health Education Specialists Salary in Columbia, SC
In Columbia, SC, health education specialists earn $59,970 at the median — $28.83 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $64,029 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,276/month — about 32.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $60K 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 health education specialists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level health education specialists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Health Education Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111K | +76% | 600 |
| Maryland | $101K | +60% | 2,160 |
| Georgia | $97K | +54% | 3,260 |
| Rhode Island | $80K | +28% | 160 |
| New Jersey | $78K | +24% | 1,220 |
| Minnesota | $78K | +24% | 1,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $75K | +19% | 2,230 |
| Oregon | $74K | +17% | 820 |
| New Hampshire | $74K | +17% | 140 |
| Alaska | $73K | +15% | 280 |
| Washington | $73K | +15% | 1,810 |
| Connecticut | $72K | +14% | 440 |
| Idaho | $70K | +11% | 370 |
| Ohio | $68K | +9% | 1,620 |
| Virginia | $68K | +8% | 830 |
| Iowa | $68K | +8% | 450 |
| Wisconsin | $67K | +7% | 790 |
| Kansas | $67K | +6% | 450 |
| Vermont | $65K | +4% | 170 |
| Hawaii | $65K | +3% | 170 |
| Kentucky | $64K | +2% | 760 |
| West Virginia | $62K | -1% | 460 |
| Wyoming | $62K | -1% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | -1% | 1,970 |
| Delaware | $62K | -2% | 370 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -2% | 460 |
| Utah | $62K | -2% | 490 |
| Nevada | $61K | -3% | 330 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -3% | 1,050 |
| New York | $60K | -4% | 3,850 |
| California | $60K | -5% | 14,650 |
| Missouri | $60K | -5% | 1,140 |
| Indiana | $60K | -5% | 1,660 |
| South Carolina | $60K | -5% | 530 |
| Maine | $59K | -6% | 570 |
| North Dakota | $59K | -7% | 90 |
| Arizona | $58K | -8% | 1,070 |
| Illinois | $58K | -8% | 1,060 |
| Louisiana | $57K | -9% | 380 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -9% | 150 |
| Texas | $56K | -11% | 4,550 |
| Tennessee | $56K | -11% | 870 |
| South Dakota | $56K | -11% | 140 |
| North Carolina | $55K | -13% | 1,830 |
| Florida | $53K | -15% | 2,710 |
| Alabama | $53K | -16% | 620 |
| Michigan | $53K | -16% | 1,820 |
| Nebraska | $52K | -17% | 400 |
| Montana | $52K | -17% | 220 |
| Mississippi | $48K | -24% | 530 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track health education specialists 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 health education specialists make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $59,970 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,000, and experienced health education specialists can clear $95,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,001/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 31.9% 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 health education specialists 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 health education specialists salary is worth about $64,029 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do health education specialists 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.