Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary in Columbia, SC
The median pay for a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Columbia, SC is $69,120/year ($33.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $73,799 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 28.1% 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 mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $100K | +46% | 410 |
| New Mexico | $88K | +28% | 330 |
| Indiana | $83K | +21% | 1,750 |
| California | $82K | +20% | 3,300 |
| Rhode Island | $81K | +18% | 30 |
| Missouri | $81K | +18% | 740 |
| Connecticut | $81K | +18% | 320 |
| Nebraska | $78K | +13% | 320 |
| District of Columbia | $77K | +12% | N/A |
| Maryland | $77K | +12% | 800 |
| New York | $76K | +10% | 1,390 |
| Maine | $75K | +9% | 190 |
| Texas | $74K | +8% | 1,810 |
| Illinois | $74K | +8% | 1,470 |
| Washington | $74K | +8% | 1,040 |
| Oregon | $74K | +7% | 310 |
| Minnesota | $73K | +6% | 530 |
| New Jersey | $71K | +4% | 360 |
| Mississippi | $70K | +2% | 230 |
| North Dakota | $70K | +1% | 80 |
| Tennessee | $69K | -0% | 400 |
| Arizona | $68K | -1% | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $68K | -1% | 550 |
| Kentucky | $68K | -1% | 380 |
| Idaho | $68K | -2% | 100 |
| Ohio | $68K | -2% | 1,910 |
| Massachusetts | $67K | -3% | 720 |
| Iowa | $66K | -4% | 610 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -4% | 1,460 |
| Georgia | $66K | -4% | 610 |
| Delaware | $66K | -4% | N/A |
| Nevada | $65K | -5% | 540 |
| Florida | $65K | -6% | 750 |
| South Carolina | $64K | -7% | 910 |
| Virginia | $64K | -7% | 580 |
| Michigan | $63K | -8% | 5,470 |
| Oklahoma | $63K | -8% | 260 |
| North Carolina | $63K | -9% | 1,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $62K | -10% | 2,100 |
| Alabama | $61K | -11% | 350 |
| West Virginia | $61K | -11% | 90 |
| Utah | $61K | -11% | 1,180 |
| Kansas | $60K | -13% | 200 |
| South Dakota | $51K | -25% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track mechanical engineering technologists and technicians 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 mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $69,120 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,060, and experienced mechanical engineering technologists and technicians can clear $86,570. 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 $4,518/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 28.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineering technologists and technicians 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 mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $73,799 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians 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.