Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,010 or more. The middle half of elementary school teachers (except special education) in Columbia earn between $50,710 and $62,650.
- $48K10th
- $51K25th
- $60KMedian
- $63K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,300 | $5,025 | — |
| Median | $60,050 | $5,004 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,710 | $4,226 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,650 | $5,221 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Elementary school teachers (except special education) in Columbia earn 3% less than the South Carolina average ($62,210) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($72,650). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $63,970.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $60,300 | $60,050 | $48,170 | $76,010 | 4,360 |
| South Carolina | $62,210 | $60,820 | $48,410 | $77,570 | 25,030 |
| United States | $72,650 | $63,970 | $47,960 | $104,340 | 1,388,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $60,300, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $48,949 a year, or $4,079 a month and $1,883 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 elementary school teachers (except special education)? 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 $60,300 buys what about $64,380 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Hilton Head Island pays the most ($65,800).
- Hilton Head Island$65,800
- Charleston$65,160
- Greenville$61,450
- Columbia$60,300
- Spartanburg$60,120
- Florence$59,410
- Sumter$57,180
All Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in South Carolina
Highest-paying cities for elementary school teachers (except special education)
Mount Vernon, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($106,760).
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,760
- El Centro, CA$105,390
- Merced, CA$103,340
- San Jose, CA$102,340
- Seattle, WA$102,290
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary by city
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Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Columbia: questions
What is the entry-level elementary school teachers (except special education) salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,710, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the elementary school teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Columbia?
About $48,949 a year ($4,079 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,300.
Do elementary school teachers (except special education) earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,650).
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 25-2021; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- 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 1.24, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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