Protective Service Workers, All Other pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,930 or more. The middle half of other protective service workers in Columbia earn between $39,970 and $55,670.
- $39K10th
- $40K25th
- $52KMedian
- $56K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,020 | $4,252 | $24.53 |
| Median | $51,630 | $4,302 | $24.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,970 | $3,331 | $19.22 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $55,670 | $4,639 | $26.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Protective Service Workers, All Other pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Other protective service workers in Columbia earn 11% more than the South Carolina average ($45,790) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($48,070). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $42,540.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $51,020 | $51,630 | $38,610 | $68,930 | 70 |
| South Carolina | $45,790 | $44,130 | $28,360 | $63,760 | 320 |
| United States | $48,070 | $42,540 | $32,470 | $74,590 | 81,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Protective Service Workers, All Other salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $51,020, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $42,108 a year, or $3,509 a month and $1,620 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 other protective service workers? 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 $51,020 buys what about $54,472 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Protective Service Workers, All Other salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 2nd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($51,100).
- Charleston$51,100
- Columbia$51,020
- Greenville$44,860
All Protective Service Workers, All Other salaries in South Carolina
Highest-paying cities for other protective service workers
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($76,520).
- Washington, DC$76,520
- Salt Lake City, UT$76,480
- Honolulu, HI$75,710
- Albuquerque, NM$70,950
- Naples, FL$68,270
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Protective Service Workers, All Other salary in Columbia: questions
How much do other protective service workers make an hour in Columbia?
$24.53 an hour on average, and $24.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other protective service workers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other protective service workers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $42,108 a year ($3,509 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,020.
Do other protective service workers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($48,070).
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 33-9099; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 0.36, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.36).
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