Lawyers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $293,340 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Columbia earn between $80,870 and $169,160.
- $63K10th
- $81K25th
- $105KMedian
- $169K75th
- $293K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $139,580 | $11,632 | $67.11 |
| Median | $105,200 | $8,767 | $50.58 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,870 | $6,739 | $38.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $169,160 | $14,097 | $81.33 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Lawyers in Columbia earn 4% less than the South Carolina average ($144,700) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $139,580 | $105,200 | $63,030 | $293,340 | 1,950 |
| South Carolina | $144,700 | $120,310 | $63,140 | $301,140 | 7,890 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $139,580, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $100,363 a year, or $8,364 a month and $3,860 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% 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 lawyers? 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 $139,580 buys what about $149,025 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($158,390).
- Greenville$158,390
- Spartanburg$150,250
- Charleston$149,310
- Columbia$139,580
- Hilton Head Island$139,250
- Myrtle Beach$135,780
- Sumter$135,290
- Florence$130,310
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Columbia?
$67.10 an hour on average, and $50.58 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,870, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $100,363 a year ($8,364 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $139,580.
Do lawyers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
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 23-1011; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- 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 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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