Hydrologists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,210 or more. The middle half of hydrologists in Columbia earn between $57,830 and $76,400.
- $56K10th
- $58K25th
- $66KMedian
- $76K75th
- $115K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,940 | $6,162 | $35.55 |
| Median | $65,770 | $5,481 | $31.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,830 | $4,819 | $27.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,400 | $6,367 | $36.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Hydrologists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Hydrologists in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($74,660) and 29% less than the U.S. average ($103,600). At the median the gap is -32% against the U.S. median of $96,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $73,940 | $65,770 | $56,440 | $115,210 | 100 |
| South Carolina | $74,660 | $65,770 | $57,830 | $115,210 | 100 |
| United States | $103,600 | $96,600 | $64,020 | $153,130 | 5,850 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Hydrologists salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $73,940, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $58,260 a year, or $4,855 a month and $2,241 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 hydrologists? 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 $73,940 buys what about $78,943 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Hydrologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Washington, DC$153,030
- Columbus, OH$97,050
- Tampa, FL$86,880
- Baltimore, MD$139,870
- Indianapolis, IN$81,940
- Akron, OH$93,170
Highest-paying cities for hydrologists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($153,030).
- Washington, DC$153,030
- San Jose, CA$149,180
- San Francisco, CA$142,450
- Baltimore, MD$139,870
- Los Angeles, CA$130,070
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Hydrologists salary in Columbia: questions
How much do hydrologists make an hour in Columbia?
$35.55 an hour on average, and $31.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level hydrologists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the hydrologists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $58,260 a year ($4,855 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,940.
Do hydrologists earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 29% less than the U.S. average for this job ($103,600).
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 19-2043; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 6.42, this job is 6.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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