Jobs, pay and daily life in Columbia, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Columbia is a city in South Carolina with 139,643 residents. The median household earns $55,529 a year and the median rent is $1,204 a month, which is 26.0% of the median household income. It is part of the Columbia, SC metropolitan area, where BLS counts 394,200 jobs.
Federal jobs in South Carolina (373) →State guide: South CarolinaCountry guide
There are 373 federal postings open in South Carolina (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in South Carolina →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 11,640 | 1.19 | $27,170 | $22,440 | $34,360 | -13% |
| Retail Salespersons | 10,860 | 1.10 | $29,540 | $22,110 | $43,840 | -17% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 10,430 | 1.59 | $37,430 | $30,000 | $54,490 | -16% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 9,470 | 1.32 | $37,180 | $29,750 | $43,340 | -0% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 9,410 | 1.26 | $37,530 | $29,800 | $47,440 | -7% |
| Registered Nurses | 9,400 | 1.10 | $81,920 | $68,460 | $108,210 | -16% |
| Cashiers | 8,700 | 1.11 | $27,830 | $21,840 | $34,790 | -15% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 7,740 | 0.71 | $30,210 | $23,960 | $35,560 | -16% |
| Office Clerks, General | 7,260 | 1.16 | $38,320 | $23,000 | $57,980 | -15% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 6,610 | 1.53 | $45,620 | $30,760 | $62,260 | -4% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 6,580 | 1.14 | $17,810 | $15,080 | $43,540 | -49% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 6,120 | 1.68 | $62,230 | $43,610 | $95,560 | -10% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 5,630 | 1.08 | $51,280 | $37,750 | $78,990 | -13% |
| Nursing Assistants | 5,420 | 1.48 | $37,400 | $30,450 | $45,920 | -12% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 5,320 | 0.95 | $32,170 | $23,620 | $43,860 | -13% |
| Security Guards | 5,290 | 1.63 | $35,140 | $28,120 | $45,790 | -8% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,890 | 0.55 | $103,950 | $54,080 | $214,420 | -2% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 4,680 | 1.21 | $46,870 | $33,300 | $69,470 | -5% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 4,360 | 1.24 | $60,050 | $48,170 | $76,010 | -6% |
| Cooks, Restaurant | 3,520 | 0.99 | $35,490 | $26,870 | $43,220 | -5% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | 1,050 | 1.21 | $374,300 | $99,230 | $501,690 | +41% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 990 | 0.58 | $141,570 | $87,410 | $222,560 | -19% |
| Marketing Managers | 560 | 0.56 | $136,930 | $78,920 | $273,130 | -18% |
| Pharmacists | 1,050 | 1.29 | $133,850 | $81,390 | $169,540 | -5% |
| Sales Managers | 1,360 | 0.84 | $128,650 | $60,030 | $214,840 | -13% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 850 | 1.36 | $128,050 | $78,020 | $196,910 | +2% |
| Financial Managers | 1,800 | 0.85 | $124,790 | $77,490 | $235,240 | -25% |
| Software Developers | 2,070 | 0.48 | $123,380 | $70,950 | $172,460 | -9% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 920 | 1.12 | $118,470 | $97,010 | $150,700 | -10% |
| Construction Managers | 820 | 0.85 | $112,180 | $74,380 | $180,570 | -2% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,640 | 1.08 | $107,280 | $69,520 | $186,080 | -13% |
| Lawyers | 1,950 | 1.02 | $105,200 | $63,030 | $293,340 | -34% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,890 | 0.55 | $103,950 | $54,080 | $214,420 | -2% |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | 960 | 1.15 | $101,830 | $78,880 | $130,410 | -4% |
| Electrical Engineers | 510 | 1.01 | $101,320 | $69,260 | $154,870 | -16% |
| Physical Therapists | 670 | 0.98 | $99,840 | $64,880 | $118,260 | -3% |
| Industrial Engineers | 760 | 0.82 | $98,780 | $73,510 | $138,280 | -4% |
| Civil Engineers | 1,070 | 1.14 | $94,520 | $66,490 | $147,430 | -6% |
| Management Analysts | 3,120 | 1.37 | $93,250 | $49,120 | $157,820 | -8% |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 770 | 0.70 | $91,920 | $41,990 | $153,780 | -21% |
These figures are for the whole Columbia, SC metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $46,430 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.6% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 12.8% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 11.9% |
| Retail trade | 11.8% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 7.5% |
| Public administration | 7.0% |
| Manufacturing | 5.6% |
| Other services | 4.7% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 4.4% |
| Construction | 3.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.4% |
| Information | 1.3% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.8% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 63.0% |
| Public transit | 1.0% |
| Walk | 14.3% |
| Work from home | 11.6% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 5.2% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $55,529 |
| Income per person | $39,058 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,204 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 26.0% |
| Median home value | $264,300 |
| Homeowners | 45.5% |
| Poverty rate | 24.0% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 93.7 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $46,430 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 6.00%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 28.6 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 91.2% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 45.9% |
| Born abroad | 5.8% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 59.5% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.3 | 43 | 71 |
| Feb | 8.2 | 47 | 88 |
| Mar | 12.3 | 54 | 87 |
| Apr | 17.5 | 64 | 78 |
| May | 22.4 | 72 | 98 |
| Jun | 26.5 | 80 | 120 |
| Jul | 28.1 | 83 | 127 |
| Aug | 27.4 | 81 | 120 |
| Sep | 24.4 | 76 | 99 |
| Oct | 18.6 | 65 | 86 |
| Nov | 12.3 | 54 | 73 |
| Dec | 8.4 | 47 | 101 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | NC | 81 mi | 943,474 | $86,416 | $1,720 |
| Augusta | GA | 82 mi | 201,528 | $55,485 | $1,142 |
| North Charleston | SC | 91 mi | 119,913 | $62,956 | $1,430 |
| Charleston | SC | 100 mi | 154,338 | $92,414 | $1,722 |
| Fayetteville | NC | 131 mi | 210,815 | $58,407 | $1,250 |
| Savannah | GA | 141 mi | 147,898 | $57,137 | $1,382 |
| Athens | GA | 141 mi | 127,345 | $52,974 | $1,219 |
| Winston-Salem | NC | 147 mi | 252,037 | $59,268 | $1,087 |
| Greensboro | NC | 155 mi | 301,198 | $61,515 | $1,172 |
| Cary | NC | 168 mi | 179,306 | $134,905 | $1,738 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
139,643 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,204 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 26.0% of the median household income.
$55,529 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.6% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
South Carolina. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.