Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social scientists and related workers, all other in Columbia, SC is $83,780/year ($40.28/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $89,451 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 24.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Where the paycheck goes
What $84K actually covers in Columbia, month by month
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 social scientists and related workers, all others
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What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for social scientists and related workers, all other in Columbia runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $101K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,276/month, 24.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Columbia can be a reasonable trade-off for social scientists and related workers, all other who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social scientists and related workers, all others in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $81K | $81K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $89K | $89K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $75K | $77K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $81K | $83K |
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 social scientists and related workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $141K | +39% | 3,380 |
| Maryland | $132K | +30% | 2,600 |
| District of Columbia | $128K | +27% | 2,480 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | +4% | 820 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 790 |
| New York | $105K | +4% | 3,410 |
| Nebraska | $104K | +3% | 120 |
| Minnesota | $103K | +2% | 1,000 |
| Washington | $103K | +2% | 1,160 |
| Texas | $102K | +1% | 2,260 |
| New Jersey | $101K | +0% | 350 |
| Arizona | $99K | -2% | 600 |
| Illinois | $99K | -2% | 730 |
| Ohio | $99K | -2% | 1,520 |
| California | $98K | -3% | 2,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | -3% | 620 |
| Oregon | $96K | -5% | 350 |
| Nevada | $96K | -5% | 180 |
| Alabama | $95K | -6% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $95K | -7% | 190 |
| Hawaii | $93K | -8% | 430 |
| Delaware | $92K | -9% | 100 |
| Iowa | $92K | -9% | 150 |
| Utah | $92K | -9% | 180 |
| Georgia | $91K | -10% | 1,510 |
| New Mexico | $91K | -10% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $91K | -10% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $90K | -11% | 110 |
| Indiana | $89K | -12% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $89K | -12% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $89K | -12% | 40 |
| Idaho | $89K | -12% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $89K | -12% | 220 |
| New Hampshire | $87K | -14% | 130 |
| South Dakota | $86K | -15% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $86K | -15% | 170 |
| Kansas | $85K | -16% | 310 |
| Michigan | $84K | -17% | 660 |
| South Carolina | $84K | -17% | 300 |
| Florida | $83K | -17% | 1,740 |
| Montana | $82K | -19% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 1,770 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -20% | 320 |
| Missouri | $81K | -20% | 330 |
| Vermont | $79K | -21% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -22% | 350 |
| North Dakota | $76K | -24% | 120 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -24% | 250 |
| Maine | $74K | -27% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track social scientists and related workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a social scientists and related workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 24.1% 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 social scientists and related workers, all others in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social scientists and related workers, all others typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,308/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is social scientists and related workers, all other a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $84K here vs. $101K 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 social scientists and related workers, all others?
Columbia pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — below the national median.
How much do social scientists and related workers, all others make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $83,780 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,170, and experienced social scientists and related workers, all others can clear $115,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,299/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 24.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a social scientists and related workers, all other 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 social scientists and related workers, all other salary is worth about $89,451 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social scientists and related workers, all others 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.