Registered Nurses pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $108,210 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Columbia earn between $75,940 and $96,190.
- $68K10th
- $76K25th
- $82KMedian
- $96K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $88,030 | $7,336 | $42.32 |
| Median | $81,920 | $6,827 | $39.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,940 | $6,328 | $36.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $96,190 | $8,016 | $46.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($87,670) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $88,030 | $81,920 | $68,460 | $108,210 | 9,400 |
| South Carolina | $87,670 | $82,360 | $66,860 | $106,520 | 49,750 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $88,030, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $67,238 a year, or $5,603 a month and $2,586 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 registered nurses? 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 $88,030 buys what about $93,987 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Florence pays the most ($100,700).
- Florence$100,700
- Charleston$91,710
- Columbia$88,030
- Greenville$85,030
- Sumter$84,470
- Spartanburg$84,020
- Myrtle Beach$82,860
- Hilton Head Island$82,270
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Columbia: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Columbia?
$42.32 an hour on average, and $39.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Columbia?
About $67,238 a year ($5,603 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $88,030.
Do registered nurses earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
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 29-1141; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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 1.10, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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