Human Resources Specialists Salary in Columbia, SC
In Columbia, SC, human resources specialists earn $65,200 at the median, or about $31.35 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $69,613 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 29.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $65K 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 human resources specialists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $103K | +41% | 7,130 |
| Washington | $83K | +14% | 25,110 |
| Massachusetts | $82K | +12% | 25,490 |
| California | $82K | +12% | 104,880 |
| New York | $81K | +11% | 53,030 |
| Maryland | $81K | +11% | 16,960 |
| Virginia | $79K | +8% | 29,530 |
| New Jersey | $78K | +7% | 23,180 |
| Connecticut | $78K | +7% | 8,660 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +6% | 16,850 |
| Kansas | $76K | +5% | 8,830 |
| Vermont | $76K | +4% | 1,290 |
| Oregon | $74K | +2% | 11,200 |
| Delaware | $73K | -0% | 3,110 |
| Illinois | $72K | -1% | 32,600 |
| Rhode Island | $70K | -4% | 3,160 |
| North Dakota | $70K | -4% | 1,870 |
| North Carolina | $69K | -5% | 31,510 |
| Utah | $68K | -7% | 10,450 |
| Hawaii | $67K | -8% | 2,710 |
| Michigan | $66K | -9% | 26,870 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -9% | 17,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $66K | -9% | 36,710 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | -10% | 3,990 |
| Arizona | $65K | -10% | 19,840 |
| Tennessee | $65K | -11% | 20,490 |
| New Mexico | $65K | -11% | 4,330 |
| Georgia | $65K | -11% | 32,980 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -11% | 10,680 |
| Iowa | $65K | -11% | 7,780 |
| South Carolina | $65K | -11% | 12,440 |
| Ohio | $65K | -11% | 34,590 |
| Texas | $65K | -11% | 85,580 |
| Maine | $64K | -12% | 3,080 |
| Nevada | $64K | -12% | 6,400 |
| Florida | $64K | -12% | 62,880 |
| Idaho | $64K | -13% | 3,490 |
| Alabama | $63K | -14% | 11,200 |
| Missouri | $63K | -14% | 18,240 |
| Wyoming | $63K | -14% | 950 |
| West Virginia | $62K | -15% | 2,950 |
| Indiana | $62K | -15% | 17,320 |
| South Dakota | $62K | -15% | 1,490 |
| Montana | $62K | -15% | 2,200 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -16% | 6,610 |
| Nebraska | $59K | -19% | 8,140 |
| Oklahoma | $58K | -20% | 9,460 |
| Mississippi | $56K | -23% | 4,560 |
| Arkansas | $53K | -27% | 5,660 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track human resources 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 human resources specialists make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $65,200 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,500, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $111,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,309/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 29.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources 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 human resources specialists salary is worth about $69,613 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources 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.