File Clerks pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,070 or more. The middle half of file clerks in Columbia earn between $28,920 and $45,780.
- $18K10th
- $29K25th
- $38KMedian
- $46K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,910 | $3,159 | $18.23 |
| Median | $37,510 | $3,126 | $18.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,920 | $2,410 | $13.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,780 | $3,815 | $22.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
File Clerks pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
File clerks in Columbia earn 7% less than the South Carolina average ($40,810) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($45,590). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $43,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $37,910 | $37,510 | $17,660 | $54,070 | 370 |
| South Carolina | $40,810 | $39,350 | $27,710 | $56,800 | 1,210 |
| United States | $45,590 | $43,600 | $31,200 | $63,490 | 73,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
File Clerks salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $37,910, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $32,185 a year, or $2,682 a month and $1,238 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 file clerks? 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 $37,910 buys what about $40,475 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
File Clerks salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Hilton Head Island pays the most ($46,670).
- Hilton Head Island$46,670
- Myrtle Beach$46,100
- Charleston$45,410
- Spartanburg$43,580
- Greenville$41,350
- Columbia$37,910
- Florence$36,530
Highest-paying cities for file clerks
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($65,520).
- San Jose, CA$65,520
- San Francisco, CA$60,000
- Napa, CA$58,830
- Salinas, CA$56,620
- Chicago, IL$55,780
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
File Clerks salary in Columbia: questions
How much do file clerks make an hour in Columbia?
$18.23 an hour on average, and $18.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level file clerks salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $17,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the file clerks take-home pay in Columbia?
About $32,185 a year ($2,682 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,910.
Do file clerks earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($45,590).
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 43-4071; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.99, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.