Travel Agents pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,320 or more. The middle half of travel agents in Columbia earn between $29,760 and $35,800.
- $18K10th
- $30K25th
- $32KMedian
- $36K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,010 | $2,834 | $16.35 |
| Median | $31,650 | $2,638 | $15.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,760 | $2,480 | $14.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $35,800 | $2,983 | $17.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Travel Agents pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Travel agents in Columbia earn 18% less than the South Carolina average ($41,640) and 38% less than the U.S. average ($54,660). At the median the gap is -37% against the U.S. median of $50,160.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $34,010 | $31,650 | $18,380 | $47,320 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $41,640 | $34,560 | $26,120 | $62,150 | 680 |
| United States | $54,660 | $50,160 | $34,610 | $76,660 | 55,110 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Travel Agents salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $34,010, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $29,129 a year, or $2,427 a month and $1,120 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 travel agents? 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 $34,010 buys what about $36,311 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Travel Agents salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 5th of 5 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Greenville pays the most ($46,360).
- Greenville$46,360
- Charleston$44,980
- Hilton Head Island$43,500
- Myrtle Beach$38,740
- Columbia$34,010
Highest-paying cities for travel agents
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($66,650).
- Bridgeport, CT$66,650
- Bozeman, MT$66,150
- Las Vegas, NV$64,900
- New Haven, CT$64,290
- Kiryas Joel, NY$63,600
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Travel Agents salary in Columbia: questions
How much do travel agents make an hour in Columbia?
$16.35 an hour on average, and $15.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level travel agents salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $18,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the travel agents take-home pay in Columbia?
About $29,129 a year ($2,427 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,010.
Do travel agents earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% less than the U.S. average for this job ($54,660).
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 41-3041; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.6%.
- 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 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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