How Much Does an EMT Make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for EMTs 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 EMT in Columbia, South Carolina earns $20.33 per hour, or $42,290 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,524 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,640, and the top 10% of earners make over $49,210.
That pay is 5% above the South Carolina figure of $40,370 and 5% below the national figure of $44,470. Columbia ranks 5th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for EMT pay. About 770 EMTs work in the Columbia area.
EMT pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.33 an hour, or $42,290 a year.
- That is 5% above the South Carolina figure, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $33,640; the top 10% make over $49,210.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an EMT make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $16.17 an hour to more than $23.66 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
EMT pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $33,640$16.17 an hour | $31,590$15.19 an hour | $34,130$16.41 an hour |
| First years | $38,020$18.28 an hour | $38,050$18.29 an hour | $37,960$18.25 an hour |
| Typical EMT | $42,290$20.33 an hour | $40,370$19.41 an hour | $44,470$21.38 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,800$22.50 an hour | $46,660$22.43 an hour | $50,100$24.09 an hour |
| Top 10% | $49,210$23.66 an hour | $49,210$23.66 an hour | $62,500$30.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
EMT pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for EMTs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2021 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2021, typical EMT pay in Columbia was $35,100 a year. By 2025 it had reached $42,290.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Gastonia pays EMTs the most in South Carolina at $45,550 a year, $3,260 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sumter at $37,630.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | EMTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastonia metro incl. Concord | $45,550 | $21.90 | +8% | 1,210 |
| 2 | Richmond County | $45,060 | $21.66 | +7% | 350 |
| 3 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $44,630 | $21.46 | +6% | 780 |
| 4 | Greenville | $42,310 | $20.34 | 0% | 540 |
| 5 | Columbia | $42,290 | $20.33 | this city | 770 |
| 6 | Spartanburg | $39,980 | $19.22 | -5% | 580 |
| 7 | Hilton Head Island metro incl. Bluffton · Port Royal | $39,830 | $19.15 | -6% | 90 |
| 8 | Florence | $39,440 | $18.96 | -7% | 310 |
| 9 | Myrtle Beach metro incl. Conway · North Myrtle Beach | $38,900 | $18.70 | -8% | 60 |
| 10 | Sumter | $37,630 | $18.09 | -11% | 60 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with EMT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $40,370
Is Columbia a good place to work as an EMT?
EMTs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $42,290 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 2.0 are EMT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.2. That makes the local economy more reliant on EMTs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an EMT make in Columbia, SC?
- A typical EMT in Columbia earns $42,290 a year, or $20.33 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $33,640 and the top 10% earn over $49,210.
- How much does an EMT make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for EMTs in Columbia is $20.33. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.17, and the top 10% earn over $23.66 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an EMT in Columbia?
- Entry-level EMT positions in Columbia typically offer around $16.17 an hour, or $33,640 a year.
- Is EMT pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is 5% above the South Carolina figure of $40,370 a year, ranking 5th of 10 metro areas in the state. Gastonia pays the most in South Carolina at $45,550.