Compensation and Benefits Managers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $144,780 or more. The middle half of compensation and benefits managers in Columbia earn between $61,870 and $94,120.
- $56K10th
- $62K25th
- $74KMedian
- $94K75th
- $145K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,140 | $7,262 | $41.89 |
| Median | $73,870 | $6,156 | $35.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,870 | $5,156 | $29.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,120 | $7,843 | $45.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Compensation and Benefits Managers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Compensation and benefits managers in Columbia earn 27% less than the South Carolina average ($119,340) and 46% less than the U.S. average ($162,640). At the median the gap is -50% against the U.S. median of $149,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $87,140 | $73,870 | $55,520 | $144,780 | 120 |
| South Carolina | $119,340 | $99,630 | $61,100 | $211,660 | 330 |
| United States | $162,640 | $149,230 | $89,160 | $256,570 | 22,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $87,140, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $66,671 a year, or $5,556 a month and $2,564 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 compensation and benefits managers? 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 $87,140 buys what about $93,037 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 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($152,230).
- Charleston$152,230
- Greenville$137,530
- Columbia$87,140
All Compensation and Benefits Managers salaries in South Carolina
Highest-paying cities for compensation and benefits managers
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($241,430).
- Bridgeport, CT$241,430
- San Jose, CA$227,460
- Seattle, WA$216,590
- Fayetteville, AR$214,020
- San Francisco, CA$203,270
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Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do compensation and benefits managers make an hour in Columbia?
$41.90 an hour on average, and $35.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level compensation and benefits managers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the compensation and benefits managers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $66,671 a year ($5,556 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,140.
Do compensation and benefits managers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 46% less than the U.S. average for this job ($162,640).
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 11-3111; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 2.13, this job is 2.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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