Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists Salary
The median pay for a market research analysts and marketing specialists in Columbia, SC is $68,600/year ($32.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $170K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $73,244 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $69K 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists
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What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for market research analysts and marketing specialists in Columbia runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $79K. Rent runs $1,276/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $72K | $77K |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $66K | $65K |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $58K | $62K |
| Spartanburg | $75K | $82K |
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 market research analysts and marketing specialists (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $170K or more, a $129K spread from bottom to top.
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $102K | +29% | 39,710 |
| Delaware | $101K | +29% | 3,570 |
| New York | $99K | +25% | 80,500 |
| District of Columbia | $98K | +25% | 6,340 |
| Washington | $95K | +21% | 24,460 |
| California | $95K | +20% | 119,070 |
| Colorado | $93K | +18% | 27,880 |
| New Jersey | $88K | +12% | 22,990 |
| Minnesota | $88K | +11% | 21,280 |
| Rhode Island | $86K | +9% | 3,210 |
| Oregon | $79K | +0% | 11,310 |
| Illinois | $79K | +0% | 40,560 |
| North Carolina | $78K | -0% | 30,700 |
| Connecticut | $78K | -1% | 9,930 |
| Virginia | $77K | -2% | 25,610 |
| Maryland | $76K | -3% | 13,570 |
| Georgia | $76K | -4% | 27,810 |
| Florida | $75K | -4% | 60,770 |
| Vermont | $75K | -5% | 860 |
| Ohio | $73K | -8% | 27,370 |
| Texas | $73K | -8% | 63,350 |
| Maine | $72K | -9% | 2,390 |
| Arizona | $72K | -9% | 15,850 |
| Nevada | $72K | -9% | 5,780 |
| Kansas | $70K | -11% | 8,090 |
| Missouri | $70K | -11% | 14,890 |
| Tennessee | $70K | -11% | 13,040 |
| South Carolina | $69K | -12% | 11,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $69K | -13% | 31,040 |
| Montana | $68K | -14% | 1,460 |
| Michigan | $67K | -15% | 24,220 |
| Alaska | $67K | -15% | 570 |
| Iowa | $66K | -16% | 8,880 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -17% | 6,250 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -18% | 15,600 |
| New Hampshire | $65K | -18% | 4,200 |
| Indiana | $64K | -19% | 14,400 |
| South Dakota | $63K | -19% | 1,530 |
| Utah | $63K | -20% | 14,510 |
| New Mexico | $62K | -21% | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -21% | 6,620 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -22% | 1,550 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -22% | 6,290 |
| Wyoming | $61K | -23% | 850 |
| Idaho | $61K | -23% | 3,780 |
| Nebraska | $60K | -24% | 3,780 |
| Louisiana | $60K | -24% | 5,360 |
| Alabama | $60K | -24% | 8,390 |
| Hawaii | $59K | -25% | 1,610 |
| Mississippi | $57K | -28% | 2,620 |
| West Virginia | $52K | -34% | 1,650 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a market research analysts and marketing specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 28.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for market research analysts and marketing specialists in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new market research analysts and marketing specialists typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,434/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is market research analysts and marketing specialist a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $69K here vs. $79K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for market research analysts and marketing specialists?
Columbia pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $79K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — below the national median.
How much do market research analysts and marketing specialists make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $68,600 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,570, and experienced market research analysts and marketing specialists can clear $169,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,490/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 28.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a market research analysts and marketing 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 market research analysts and marketing specialists salary is worth about $73,244 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do market research analysts and marketing 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.