Firefighters pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,240 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Columbia earn between $34,740 and $46,140.
- $29K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $46K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,280 | $3,357 | $19.37 |
| Median | $36,960 | $3,080 | $17.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,740 | $2,895 | $16.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,140 | $3,845 | $22.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Firefighters in Columbia earn 8% less than the South Carolina average ($43,900) and 37% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -38% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $40,280 | $36,960 | $29,460 | $49,240 | 1,060 |
| South Carolina | $43,900 | $42,570 | $29,130 | $62,150 | 7,780 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $40,280, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $34,041 a year, or $2,837 a month and $1,309 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 firefighters? 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 $40,280 buys what about $43,006 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 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 6th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Hilton Head Island pays the most ($52,020).
- Hilton Head Island$52,020
- Charleston$47,480
- Myrtle Beach$47,300
- Sumter$44,730
- Greenville$42,690
- Columbia$40,280
- Spartanburg$38,150
- Florence$34,860
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Firefighters salary in Columbia: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Columbia?
$19.37 an hour on average, and $17.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $29,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Columbia?
About $34,041 a year ($2,837 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,280.
Do firefighters earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 37% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
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 33-2011; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 1.21, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.