How Much Does an RN Make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs 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 RN in Columbia, South Carolina earns $39.39 per hour, or $81,920 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,827 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,460, and the top 10% of earners make over $108,210.
That pay is 1% below the South Carolina figure of $82,360 and 16% below the national figure of $97,550. Columbia ranks 6th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for RN pay. About 9,400 RNs work in the Columbia area.
RN pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.39 an hour, or $81,920 a year.
- That is 1% below the South Carolina figure, ranking 6th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,460; the top 10% make over $108,210.
- Typical pay rose +44% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $32.91 an hour to more than $52.03 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $68,460$32.91 an hour | $66,860$32.14 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $75,940$36.51 an hour | $77,320$37.17 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $81,920$39.39 an hour | $82,360$39.60 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $96,190$46.24 an hour | $97,230$46.75 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $108,210$52.03 an hour | $106,520$51.21 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Columbia was $57,080 a year. By 2025 it had reached $81,920, a change of +44%, compared with +39% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
North Charleston pays RNs the most in South Carolina at $92,800 a year, $10,880 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is North Myrtle Beach at $80,640.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Charleston metro incl. Charleston | $92,800 | $44.62 | +13% | 9,760 |
| 2 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $90,620 | $43.57 | +11% | 27,010 |
| 3 | Richmond County | $87,760 | $42.19 | +7% | 6,880 |
| 4 | Sumter | $86,260 | $41.47 | +5% | 670 |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $82,360 | $39.60 | +1% | 4,440 |
| 6 | Columbia | $81,920 | $39.39 | this city | 9,400 |
| 7 | Bluffton metro incl. Port Royal · Hilton Head Island | $81,400 | $39.14 | -1% | 1,410 |
| 8 | Anderson metro incl. Greer · Greenville | $81,400 | $39.14 | -1% | 9,730 |
| 9 | Florence | $81,170 | $39.02 | -1% | 3,120 |
| 10 | Conway metro incl. Myrtle Beach · North Myrtle Beach | $80,640 | $38.77 | -2% | 3,150 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $82,360
Is Columbia a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $81,920 a year, 16% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 24 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Columbia, SC?
- A typical RN in Columbia earns $81,920 a year, or $39.39 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $68,460 and the top 10% earn over $108,210.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Columbia is $39.39. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.91, and the top 10% earn over $52.03 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Columbia?
- Entry-level RN positions in Columbia typically offer around $32.91 an hour, or $68,460 a year.
- Is RN pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is 1% below the South Carolina figure of $82,360 a year, ranking 6th of 10 metro areas in the state. North Charleston pays the most in South Carolina at $92,800.