How Much Does an NP Make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for NPs 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 NP in Columbia, South Carolina earns $56.96 per hour, or $118,470 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $9,873 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $97,010, and the top 10% of earners make over $150,700.
That pay is 4% below the South Carolina figure of $123,290 and 10% below the national figure of $132,300. Columbia ranks 9th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for NP pay. About 920 NPs work in the Columbia area.
NP pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $56.96 an hour, or $118,470 a year.
- That is 4% below the South Carolina figure, ranking 9th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $97,010; the top 10% make over $150,700.
- Typical pay rose +31% from 2015 to 2025, against +36% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an NP make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $46.64 an hour to more than $72.45 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
NP pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $97,010$46.64 an hour | $97,080$46.67 an hour | $101,340$48.72 an hour |
| First years | $105,970$50.95 an hour | $107,930$51.89 an hour | $117,990$56.73 an hour |
| Typical NP | $118,470$56.96 an hour | $123,290$59.28 an hour | $132,300$63.61 an hour |
| Experienced | $130,230$62.61 an hour | $132,220$63.57 an hour | $156,700$75.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $150,700$72.45 an hour | $160,170$77.01 an hour | $174,420$83.86 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
NP pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for NPs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical NP pay in Columbia was $90,300 a year. By 2025 it had reached $118,470, a change of +31%, compared with +36% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Concord pays NPs the most in South Carolina at $130,310 a year, $11,840 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sumter at $112,080.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | NPs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $130,310 | $62.65 | +10% | 1,970 |
| 2 | North Charleston metro incl. Charleston | $127,780 | $61.43 | +8% | 1,050 |
| 3 | Florence | $121,930 | $58.62 | +3% | 270 |
| 4 | Conway metro incl. Myrtle Beach · North Myrtle Beach | $121,390 | $58.36 | +2% | 260 |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $121,120 | $58.23 | +2% | 260 |
| 6 | Richmond County | $120,270 | $57.82 | +2% | 500 |
| 7 | Greenville | $119,280 | $57.35 | +1% | 1,120 |
| 8 | Bluffton metro incl. Hilton Head Island · Port Royal | $119,130 | $57.28 | +1% | 260 |
| 9 | Columbia | $118,470 | $56.96 | this city | 920 |
| 10 | Sumter | $112,080 | $53.89 | -5% | 80 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with NP wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $123,290
Is Columbia a good place to work as an NP?
NPs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $118,470 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 2.3 are NP positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. NP jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an NP make in Columbia, SC?
- A typical NP in Columbia earns $118,470 a year, or $56.96 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $97,010 and the top 10% earn over $150,700.
- How much does an NP make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for NPs in Columbia is $56.96. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $46.64, and the top 10% earn over $72.45 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an NP in Columbia?
- Entry-level NP positions in Columbia typically offer around $46.64 an hour, or $97,010 a year.
- Is NP pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is 4% below the South Carolina figure of $123,290 a year, ranking 9th of 10 metro areas in the state. Concord pays the most in South Carolina at $130,310.