Industrial Engineers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $138,280 or more. The middle half of industrial engineers in Columbia earn between $83,020 and $117,980.
- $74K10th
- $83K25th
- $99KMedian
- $118K75th
- $138K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,890 | $8,491 | $48.99 |
| Median | $98,780 | $8,232 | $47.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,020 | $6,918 | $39.91 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $117,980 | $9,832 | $56.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Industrial Engineers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Industrial engineers in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($104,740) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($109,900). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $102,440.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $101,890 | $98,780 | $73,510 | $138,280 | 760 |
| South Carolina | $104,740 | $101,060 | $75,000 | $136,720 | 7,960 |
| United States | $109,900 | $102,440 | $74,370 | $159,860 | 365,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Industrial Engineers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $101,890, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $76,167 a year, or $6,347 a month and $2,930 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 industrial engineers? 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 $101,890 buys what about $108,785 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Industrial Engineers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($115,310).
- Charleston$115,310
- Greenville$104,730
- Florence$102,520
- Columbia$101,890
- Sumter$100,170
- Spartanburg$99,440
- Myrtle Beach$96,960
Highest-paying cities for industrial engineers
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($169,380).
- Anchorage, AK$169,380
- Midland, TX$151,520
- San Jose, CA$145,190
- Lexington Park, MD$141,280
- Charleston, WV$140,560
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Industrial Engineers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do industrial engineers make an hour in Columbia?
$48.99 an hour on average, and $47.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level industrial engineers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the industrial engineers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $76,167 a year ($6,347 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,890.
Do industrial engineers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($109,900).
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 17-2112; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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