How Much Does an LPN Make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for LPNs 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 LPN in Columbia, South Carolina earns $29.86 per hour, or $62,110 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,176 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $51,050, and the top 10% of earners make over $76,280.
That pay is right at the South Carolina figure of $61,820 and 4% below the national figure of $64,400. Columbia ranks 7th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for LPN pay. About 1,600 LPNs work in the Columbia area.
LPN pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.86 an hour, or $62,110 a year.
- That is right at the South Carolina figure, ranking 7th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $51,050; the top 10% make over $76,280.
- Typical pay rose +48% from 2015 to 2025, against +58% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an LPN make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $24.54 an hour to more than $36.67 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
LPN pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $51,050$24.54 an hour | $50,370$24.22 an hour | $49,740$23.91 an hour |
| First years | $56,790$27.30 an hour | $57,390$27.59 an hour | $59,000$28.37 an hour |
| Typical LPN | $62,110$29.86 an hour | $61,820$29.72 an hour | $64,400$30.96 an hour |
| Experienced | $71,990$34.61 an hour | $71,220$34.24 an hour | $76,030$36.55 an hour |
| Top 10% | $76,280$36.67 an hour | $76,420$36.74 an hour | $83,440$40.12 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
LPN pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for LPNs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical LPN pay in Columbia was $41,850 a year. By 2025 it had reached $62,110, a change of +48%, compared with +58% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Gastonia pays LPNs the most in South Carolina at $65,140 a year, $3,030 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Myrtle Beach at $58,930.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | LPNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastonia metro incl. Concord | $65,140 | $31.32 | +5% | 3,890 |
| 2 | Bluffton metro incl. Hilton Head Island · Port Royal | $64,270 | $30.90 | +3% | 250 |
| 3 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $64,100 | $30.82 | +3% | 1,480 |
| 4 | Richmond County | $63,760 | $30.65 | +3% | 1,220 |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $63,390 | $30.48 | +2% | 430 |
| 6 | Sumter | $62,640 | $30.11 | +1% | 160 |
| 7 | Columbia | $62,110 | $29.86 | this city | 1,600 |
| 8 | Greer metro incl. Anderson · Greenville | $61,960 | $29.79 | 0% | 1,680 |
| 9 | Florence | $59,700 | $28.70 | -4% | 680 |
| 10 | North Myrtle Beach metro incl. Conway · Myrtle Beach | $58,930 | $28.33 | -5% | 590 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with LPN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $61,820
Is Columbia a good place to work as an LPN?
LPN pay in Columbia sits close to the national figure: $62,110 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 4.1 are LPN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 4.2. LPN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an LPN make in Columbia, SC?
- A typical LPN in Columbia earns $62,110 a year, or $29.86 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $51,050 and the top 10% earn over $76,280.
- How much does an LPN make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for LPNs in Columbia is $29.86. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $24.54, and the top 10% earn over $36.67 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an LPN in Columbia?
- Entry-level LPN positions in Columbia typically offer around $24.54 an hour, or $51,050 a year.
- Is LPN pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is right at the South Carolina figure of $61,820 a year, ranking 7th of 10 metro areas in the state. Gastonia pays the most in South Carolina at $65,140.