Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $154,480 or more. The middle half of architects (except landscape and naval) in Columbia earn between $76,360 and $132,510.
- $62K10th
- $76K25th
- $100KMedian
- $133K75th
- $154K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $107,210 | $8,934 | $51.54 |
| Median | $100,200 | $8,350 | $48.17 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,360 | $6,363 | $36.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $132,510 | $11,042 | $63.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Architects (except landscape and naval) in Columbia earn 3% more than the South Carolina average ($103,670) and about the same as the U.S. average ($106,260). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $99,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $107,210 | $100,200 | $61,640 | $154,480 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $103,670 | $101,550 | $62,010 | $162,240 | 1,030 |
| United States | $106,260 | $99,280 | $62,300 | $161,420 | 106,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $107,210, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $79,633 a year, or $6,636 a month and $3,063 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for architects (except landscape and naval)? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $107,210 buys what about $114,465 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 1st of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Columbia$107,210
- Greenville$104,930
- Charleston$103,020
- Hilton Head Island$99,920
All Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salaries in South Carolina
Highest-paying cities for architects (except landscape and naval)
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,170).
- San Jose, CA$142,170
- San Francisco, CA$131,300
- Trenton, NJ$127,000
- Kiryas Joel, NY$125,980
- Sacramento, CA$124,740
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Architects, Except Landscape and Naval salary in Columbia: questions
How much do architects (except landscape and naval) make an hour in Columbia?
$51.54 an hour on average, and $48.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level architects (except landscape and naval) salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the architects (except landscape and naval) take-home pay in Columbia?
About $79,633 a year ($6,636 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $107,210.
Do architects (except landscape and naval) earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($106,260).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-1011; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
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