How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs 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 Surgical Tech in Columbia, South Carolina earns $29.44 per hour, or $61,230 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,103 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $50,030, and the top 10% of earners make over $74,290.
That pay is 1% below the South Carolina figure of $62,160 and 5% below the national figure of $64,650. Columbia ranks 6th of 9 metro areas in South Carolina for Surgical Tech pay. About 440 Surgical Techs work in the Columbia area.
Surgical Tech pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.44 an hour, or $61,230 a year.
- That is 1% below the South Carolina figure, ranking 6th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $50,030; the top 10% make over $74,290.
- Typical pay rose +71% from 2015 to 2025, against +67% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $24.06 an hour to more than $35.72 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $50,030$24.06 an hour | $38,830$18.67 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $51,590$24.80 an hour | $52,140$25.07 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $61,230$29.44 an hour | $62,160$29.89 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $66,760$32.10 an hour | $67,080$32.25 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $74,290$35.72 an hour | $75,210$36.16 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Columbia was $35,880 a year. By 2025 it had reached $61,230, a change of +71%, compared with +67% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Florence pays Surgical Techs the most in South Carolina at $67,080 a year, $5,850 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Myrtle Beach at $48,790.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florence | $67,080 | $32.25 | +10% | 260 |
| 2 | Spartanburg | $63,570 | $30.56 | +4% | 270 |
| 3 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $63,490 | $30.52 | +4% | 1,170 |
| 4 | Greenville | $63,050 | $30.31 | +3% | 510 |
| 5 | Hilton Head Island metro incl. Bluffton · Port Royal | $62,810 | $30.20 | +3% | 40 |
| 6 | Columbia | $61,230 | $29.44 | this city | 440 |
| 7 | Richmond County | $60,300 | $28.99 | -2% | 250 |
| 8 | North Charleston metro incl. Charleston | $59,920 | $28.81 | -2% | 380 |
| 9 | North Myrtle Beach metro incl. Conway · Myrtle Beach | $48,790 | $23.46 | -20% | 310 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $62,160
Is Columbia a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $61,230 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 1.1 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. That makes the local economy more reliant on Surgical Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Columbia, SC?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Columbia earns $61,230 a year, or $29.44 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $50,030 and the top 10% earn over $74,290.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Columbia is $29.44. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $24.06, and the top 10% earn over $35.72 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Columbia?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Columbia typically offer around $24.06 an hour, or $50,030 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is 1% below the South Carolina figure of $62,160 a year, ranking 6th of 9 metro areas in the state. Florence pays the most in South Carolina at $67,080.