Childcare Workers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $37,420 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Columbia earn between $24,850 and $32,180.
- $24K10th
- $25K25th
- $29KMedian
- $32K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,150 | $2,512 | $14.50 |
| Median | $28,850 | $2,404 | $13.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $24,850 | $2,071 | $11.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $32,180 | $2,682 | $15.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($30,600) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $30,150 | $28,850 | $23,580 | $37,420 | 1,670 |
| South Carolina | $30,600 | $29,650 | $22,020 | $37,720 | 10,660 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $30,150, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $26,104 a year, or $2,175 a month and $1,004 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 childcare workers? 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 $30,150 buys what about $32,190 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($33,350).
- Charleston$33,350
- Hilton Head Island$31,220
- Spartanburg$30,280
- Columbia$30,150
- Myrtle Beach$29,820
- Greenville$28,590
- Sumter$27,860
- Florence$27,000
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Columbia?
$14.49 an hour on average, and $13.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $24,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $26,104 a year ($2,175 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,150.
Do childcare workers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
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 39-9011; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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