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Columbia engineer salary

Estimate

Updated March 2025

What engineers earn in the Columbia, SC metro, with a full breakdown by role.

Typical pay

$100,071

Columbia

Top earners

$154,423

Higher end

vs national

-17% vs national

U.S. $120,395

State

SC

South Carolina

Engineers in the Columbia, SC metro earn an estimated $100,071, -17% vs national, with top earners near $154,423. See the full breakdown by role below, or estimate your own total compensation — the number sharpens as local engineers contribute.

Engineering pay by role in Columbia

Estimated pay for each discipline in Columbia. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.

18results

What affects engineering pay in Columbia

  • ▹Local market. Columbia pay runs -17% vs national for the typical engineer, usually above the South Carolina statewide estimate.
  • ▹Industry concentration.A metro's dominant employers (tech, defense, energy, healthcare) shift which engineering disciplines command a premium locally.
  • ▹Experience & specialization. Seniority and in-demand skills swing pay well beyond the metro median — see the role table above and the calculator.
  • ▹Remote work.Remote offers may anchor to a company's HQ market rather than Columbia, raising or lowering local pay.

Other South Carolina metros

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Engineer salaries in Columbia — FAQ

How much do engineers make in Columbia?
Engineers in the Columbia, SC metro earn a blended median of $100,071 per year — 17% below the national average — across 9 engineering occupations and 5,600 local jobs. There is no single BLS "engineer" occupation, so this blends the published medians of the engineering occupations reported for the area, weighted by local employment (BLS OEWS May 2024).
What is the highest-paying engineering role in Columbia?
Engineering Managers have the highest published median in Columbia, at $147,060 per year (BLS OEWS May 2024). Local industry concentration shifts which disciplines command the biggest premium.
How does engineering pay in Columbia compare to the national average?
The Columbia engineering median of $100,071 is 17% below the national average of $120,395, against a South Carolina statewide blend of $104,836.
Source details

BLS publishes no single "engineer" occupation. This blends the published medians of 9 engineering occupations in Columbia, SC, weighted by local employment (5,600 jobs).

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

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