Machinists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,930 or more. The middle half of machinists in Columbia earn between $45,820 and $65,950.
- $36K10th
- $46K25th
- $60KMedian
- $66K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $56,610 | $4,718 | $27.22 |
| Median | $59,570 | $4,964 | $28.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,820 | $3,818 | $22.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,950 | $5,496 | $31.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Machinists in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($57,030) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $56,610 | $59,570 | $36,350 | $74,930 | 240 |
| South Carolina | $57,030 | $57,970 | $38,270 | $75,650 | 3,790 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $56,610, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $46,228 a year, or $3,852 a month and $1,778 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 machinists? 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 $56,610 buys what about $60,441 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($59,370).
- Charleston$59,370
- Spartanburg$58,770
- Columbia$56,610
- Florence$56,320
- Greenville$56,210
- Sumter$55,230
- Myrtle Beach$46,310
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Columbia: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Columbia?
$27.22 an hour on average, and $28.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $46,228 a year ($3,852 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $56,610.
Do machinists earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
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 51-4041; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.1%.
- 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 0.34, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.34).
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