How Much Does a CNA Make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical CNA in Columbia, South Carolina earns $17.98 per hour, or $37,400 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,117 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,450, and the top 10% of earners make over $45,920.
That pay is right at the South Carolina figure of $37,220 and 12% below the national figure of $42,260. Columbia ranks 5th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for CNA pay. About 5,420 CNAs work in the Columbia area.
CNA pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.98 an hour, or $37,400 a year.
- That is right at the South Carolina figure, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $30,450; the top 10% make over $45,920.
- Typical pay rose +62% from 2015 to 2025, against +64% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $14.64 an hour to more than $22.08 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $30,450$14.64 an hour | $30,460$14.64 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $34,020$16.36 an hour | $34,960$16.81 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $37,400$17.98 an hour | $37,220$17.90 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $39,340$18.91 an hour | $39,690$19.08 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $45,920$22.08 an hour | $44,760$21.52 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Columbia was $23,120 a year. By 2025 it had reached $37,400, a change of +62%, compared with +64% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Spartanburg pays CNAs the most in South Carolina at $40,050 a year, $2,650 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Florence at $35,400.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartanburg | $40,050 | $19.26 | +7% | 1,630 |
| 2 | Gastonia metro incl. Concord | $39,430 | $18.96 | +5% | 13,580 |
| 3 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $38,810 | $18.66 | +4% | 2,800 |
| 4 | Port Royal metro incl. Hilton Head Island · Bluffton | $37,730 | $18.14 | +1% | 770 |
| 5 | Columbia | $37,400 | $17.98 | this city | 5,420 |
| 6 | Anderson metro incl. Greenville · Greer | $37,220 | $17.90 | 0% | 3,820 |
| 7 | Richmond County | $37,140 | $17.86 | -1% | 2,560 |
| 8 | North Myrtle Beach metro incl. Myrtle Beach · Conway | $36,520 | $17.56 | -2% | 820 |
| 9 | Sumter | $35,860 | $17.24 | -4% | 470 |
| 10 | Florence | $35,400 | $17.02 | -5% | 1,320 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $37,220
Is Columbia a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $37,400 a year, 12% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 14 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Columbia, SC?
- A typical CNA in Columbia earns $37,400 a year, or $17.98 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $30,450 and the top 10% earn over $45,920.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Columbia is $17.98. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.64, and the top 10% earn over $22.08 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Columbia?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Columbia typically offer around $14.64 an hour, or $30,450 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is right at the South Carolina figure of $37,220 a year, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state. Spartanburg pays the most in South Carolina at $40,050.