Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Columbia, SC

Each occupation's median wage in Columbia, SC compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Columbia, SC pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Columbia, SC run 6.3% below the national average (2024), so a Columbia, SC salary is worth about 1.07× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Columbia, SC

OccupationMedian, Columbia, SC · vs. national

1Physicians, All Other$374,300
Doctoral or professional degree
$99,230 – $501,690+40.8%
2Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$71,280
Bachelor's degree
$38,050 – $83,410+40.1%
3Social Workers, All Other$100,420
Bachelor's degree
$70,260 – $122,280+39.7%
4Dentists, General$228,820
Doctoral or professional degree
$104,860 – $310,840+33.9%
5Business Teachers, Postsecondary$129,380
Doctoral or professional degree
$37,180 – $211,950+30.6%
6Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$101,340
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,960 – $206,230+26.3%
7Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,320 – $62,150+25.5%
8Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$79,860
Bachelor's degree
$37,430 – $97,010+25.1%
9Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All Other$46,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,340 – $55,220+24.4%
10Medical Records Specialists$62,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,090 – $71,570+22.5%
11Sewing Machine Operators$44,810
No formal educational credential
$22,060 – $44,820+22.2%
12Insurance Sales Agents$74,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $174,630+19.0%
13Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $92,910+18.5%
14Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$56,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,880 – $76,740+18.3%
15Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$97,550
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,930 – $158,660+15.3%
16Slaughterers and Meat Packers$46,170
No formal educational credential
$36,970 – $46,630+15.1%
17Nurse Anesthetists$271,350
Master's degree
$214,000 – $333,030+14.7%
18Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,490 – $85,790+13.1%
19Chefs and Head Cooks$69,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,280 – $85,710+11.8%
20Chemical Technicians$64,740
Associate's degree
$47,210 – $86,450+7.2%
21Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,110 – $78,140+6.7%
22Education Administrators, All Other$100,440
Bachelor's degree
$42,330 – $131,120+5.5%
23Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$58,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,810 – $67,740+5.3%
24Education Teachers, Postsecondary$78,880
Doctoral or professional degree
$34,020 – $169,540+4.7%
25Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$109,080
Bachelor's degree
$48,330 – $200,180+4.0%
26Procurement Clerks$52,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,590 – $66,700+3.2%
27Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$80,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$18,970 – $158,740+3.1%
28Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,560 – $67,400+2.9%
29Information and Record Clerks, All Other$50,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,060 – $63,270+2.9%
30First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,610 – $75,180+2.9%
31Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$49,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,010 – $64,940+2.7%
32First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,730 – $105,590+2.6%
33Loan Interviewers and Clerks$51,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,410 – $70,020+2.5%
34Occupational Therapists$102,650
Master's degree
$77,060 – $112,260+2.3%
35Telemarketers$36,100
No formal educational credential
$29,210 – $45,020+1.8%
36Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$51,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,350 – $60,830+1.7%
37Industrial Production Managers$128,050
Bachelor's degree
$78,020 – $196,910+1.6%
38Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,580 – $63,130+1.5%
39Massage Therapists$59,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$17,840 – $88,960+1.5%
40Machinists$59,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,350 – $74,930+1.4%
41Tellers$43,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,570 – $48,780+1.2%
42Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$100,200
Bachelor's degree
$61,640 – $154,480+0.9%
43Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,050 – $89,980+0.7%
44Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $76,180+0.4%
45Computer Network Support Specialists$76,560
Associate's degree
$46,390 – $107,060+0.4%
46Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$78,880
Master's degree
$47,750 – $125,680+0.3%
47Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,220 – $87,800+0.2%
48Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,0300.0%
49Postal Service Clerks$62,130
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,0300.0%
50First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,020 – $87,8500.0%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianColumbia, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$374,300	$99,230 – $501,690	+40.8%
2	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$71,280	$38,050 – $83,410	+40.1%
3	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$100,420	$70,260 – $122,280	+39.7%
4	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$228,820	$104,860 – $310,840	+33.9%
5	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$129,380	$37,180 – $211,950	+30.6%
6	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,340	$64,960 – $206,230	+26.3%
7	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,670	$36,320 – $62,150	+25.5%
8	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$79,860	$37,430 – $97,010	+25.1%
9	Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,370	$33,340 – $55,220	+24.4%
10	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,650	$38,090 – $71,570	+22.5%
11	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$44,810	$22,060 – $44,820	+22.2%
12	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,100	$35,710 – $174,630	+19.0%
13	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,710	$38,830 – $92,910	+18.5%
14	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,430	$41,880 – $76,740	+18.3%
15	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$97,550	$58,930 – $158,660	+15.3%
16	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$46,170	$36,970 – $46,630	+15.1%
17	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$271,350	$214,000 – $333,030	+14.7%
18	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$33,490 – $85,790	+13.1%
19	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,820	$46,280 – $85,710	+11.8%
20	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,740	$47,210 – $86,450	+7.2%
21	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$48,110 – $78,140	+6.7%
22	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$100,440	$42,330 – $131,120	+5.5%
23	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,520	$32,810 – $67,740	+5.3%
24	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,880	$34,020 – $169,540	+4.7%
25	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$109,080	$48,330 – $200,180	+4.0%
26	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,210	$40,590 – $66,700	+3.2%
27	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$80,010	$18,970 – $158,740	+3.1%
28	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,430	$32,560 – $67,400	+2.9%
29	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,940	$42,060 – $63,270	+2.9%
30	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$37,610 – $75,180	+2.9%
31	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,730	$27,010 – $64,940	+2.7%
32	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,420	$49,730 – $105,590	+2.6%
33	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,270	$36,410 – $70,020	+2.5%
34	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$102,650	$77,060 – $112,260	+2.3%
35	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$36,100	$29,210 – $45,020	+1.8%
36	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,530	$38,350 – $60,830	+1.7%
37	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$128,050	$78,020 – $196,910	+1.6%
38	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,010	$38,580 – $63,130	+1.5%
39	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,310	$17,840 – $88,960	+1.5%
40	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,570	$36,350 – $74,930	+1.4%
41	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,560	$34,570 – $48,780	+1.2%
42	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$100,200	$61,640 – $154,480	+0.9%
43	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$39,050 – $89,980	+0.7%
44	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,310	$36,080 – $76,180	+0.4%
45	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,560	$46,390 – $107,060	+0.4%
46	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$78,880	$47,750 – $125,680	+0.3%
47	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,680	$43,220 – $87,800	+0.2%
48	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,030	0.0%
49	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,130	$54,330 – $75,030	0.0%
50	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,860	$45,020 – $87,850	0.0%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Columbia, SC to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Columbia, SC

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