Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic Salary in Columbia, SC
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $48,080 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,085 take-home, or $3,257 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,590
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,981
- Medicare (1.45%)$697
- South Carolina income tax$1,728
- Take-home pay$39,085
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,680 | $15.23 | $26,891 | $2,241 |
| 25th percentile | $37,370 | $17.97 | $31,122 | $2,593 |
| Median (50th) | $48,080 | $23.12 | $39,085 | $3,257 |
| 75th percentile | $64,210 | $30.87 | $51,077 | $4,256 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,430 | $37.71 | $60,457 | $5,038 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,080 buys in Columbia, SC
Prices in Columbia, SC are 6.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median automotive service technician and mechanic's $39,085 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,729 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Columbia, SC has 1.4× the national concentration of automotive service technician and mechanic jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for automotive service technicians and mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #39 of 51 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $77,840 | $59,563 | $53,941 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $72,020 | $56,010 | $52,508 |
| 3 | Milwaukee, WI | $62,530 | $50,453 | $52,047 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $58,700 | $49,345 | $51,221 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $76,030 | $58,458 | $50,564 |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $61,510 | $48,881 | $49,950 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $58,190 | $47,138 | $49,573 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $56,150 | $46,535 | $48,743 |
| 39 | Columbia, SC | $48,080 | $39,085 | $41,729 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 51 metros →
About the job: automotive service technicians and mechanics
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Charleston, SC — $49,120
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive service technician and mechanic make in Columbia, SC?
The median automotive service technician and mechanic salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $48,080 a year, or about $23.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,370 and $64,210.
What is a automotive service technician and mechanic’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $48,080 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $39,085 a year ($3,257 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,728 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a automotive service technician and mechanic?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $50,620. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,729 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #39 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive service technician and mechanic afford rent in Columbia, SC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbia, SC is $1,139 a month ($1,255 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median automotive service technician and mechanic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $46,870