Chemists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,830 a year or less, while the top 10% make $117,760 or more. The middle half of chemists in Columbia earn between $61,710 and $84,750.
- $58K10th
- $62K25th
- $73KMedian
- $85K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,220 | $6,602 | $38.09 |
| Median | $73,430 | $6,119 | $35.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,710 | $5,142 | $29.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,750 | $7,062 | $40.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Chemists in Columbia earn 12% less than the South Carolina average ($90,130) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $79,220 | $73,430 | $57,830 | $117,760 | 190 |
| South Carolina | $90,130 | $79,670 | $54,420 | $139,570 | 770 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $79,220, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $61,624 a year, or $5,135 a month and $2,370 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 chemists? 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 $79,220 buys what about $84,581 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($120,730).
- Spartanburg$120,730
- Charleston$96,740
- Greenville$90,540
- Columbia$79,220
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in Columbia: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Columbia?
$38.09 an hour on average, and $35.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,830 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $61,624 a year ($5,135 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,220.
Do chemists earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
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 19-2031; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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