Surgical Technologists pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,290 or more. The middle half of surgical technologists in Columbia earn between $51,590 and $66,760.
- $50K10th
- $52K25th
- $61KMedian
- $67K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $61,500 | $5,125 | $29.57 |
| Median | $61,230 | $5,102 | $29.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,590 | $4,299 | $24.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $66,760 | $5,563 | $32.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surgical Technologists pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Surgical technologists in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($60,050) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($68,710). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $64,650.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $61,500 | $61,230 | $50,030 | $74,290 | 440 |
| South Carolina | $60,050 | $62,160 | $38,830 | $75,210 | 2,680 |
| United States | $68,710 | $64,650 | $45,940 | $96,940 | 117,460 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Surgical Technologists salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $61,500, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $49,833 a year, or $4,153 a month and $1,917 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 surgical technologists? 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 $61,500 buys what about $65,662 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 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Surgical Technologists salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($64,470).
- Spartanburg$64,470
- Greenville$62,030
- Charleston$61,700
- Columbia$61,500
- Hilton Head Island$61,210
- Florence$59,990
- Myrtle Beach$52,220
Highest-paying cities for surgical technologists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,420).
- San Jose, CA$105,420
- Vallejo, CA$103,120
- San Francisco, CA$96,990
- Napa, CA$96,920
- Santa Cruz, CA$95,450
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Surgical Technologists salary in Columbia: questions
How much do surgical technologists make an hour in Columbia?
$29.57 an hour on average, and $29.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surgical technologists salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surgical technologists take-home pay in Columbia?
About $49,833 a year ($4,153 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $61,500.
Do surgical technologists earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($68,710).
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 29-2055; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 1.48, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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