Columbia, SC · CBSA 17900
Mechanical Engineer Salary in Columbia
VerifiedPublished metro-area wages for mechanical engineers in Columbia, SC, from the BLS OEWS May 2024 release — with the local distribution set against South Carolina and the national benchmark.
Mechanical Engineers in Columbia earn a median of $97,580 per year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. The middle 50% earn $78,200–$123,540; the top 10% earn $139,060. That is 5% below the national median and 7% below the South Carolina median. BLS reports 410 employed locally.
Median wage
Verified$97,580
-5% vs national
Top 10% earn
$139,060
90th percentile
Employed in metro
410
Reliability Low (27.6% RSE)
Mechanical Engineer pay — Columbia vs South Carolina vs national
All three distributions are published BLS percentiles on a single shared scale.
| Percentile | Annual wage | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentileentry / low | $63,650 | -7% |
| 25th percentile | $78,200 | -4% |
| Median50th percentile | $97,580 | -5% |
| 75th percentile | $123,540 | -5% |
| 90th percentiletop earners | $139,060 | -14% |
| Meanaverage | $100,110 | -9% |
How concentrated mechanical engineers are in Columbia
Location quotient compares local concentration to the national rate. Above 1.00 means this metro employs the occupation more densely than the country overall.
Location quotient
0.57
Jobs per 1,000
1.06
Metro rank (pay)
#163 of 342
All engineering roles
$100,071
At a location quotient of 0.57, this occupation is thinner on the ground in Columbia than nationally. Pay can still be competitive, but the local employer pool is smaller.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Columbia?
Does Columbia pay more than the rest of South Carolina?
Where does Columbia rank nationally for mechanical engineers?
Source details
Published wage from BLS OEWS May 2024 for SOC 17-2141 (Mechanical Engineers), Columbia, SC (metro area).
Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →