Home Health and Personal Care Aide Salary in Columbia, SC
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $30,210 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,798 take-home, or $2,150 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median home health and personal care aide salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,445
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,873
- Medicare (1.45%)$438
- South Carolina income tax$656
- Take-home pay$25,798
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Home Health and Personal Care Aide pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,960 | $11.52 | $20,982 | $1,748 |
| 25th percentile | $27,940 | $13.43 | $24,099 | $2,008 |
| Median (50th) | $30,210 | $14.52 | $25,798 | $2,150 |
| 75th percentile | $33,720 | $16.21 | $28,408 | $2,367 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $35,560 | $17.10 | $29,776 | $2,481 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,210 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 home health and personal care aide's $25,798 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,544 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Home Health and Personal Care Aide jobs are less concentrated in Columbia, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for home health and personal care aides, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #127 of 180 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grants Pass, OR | $53,120 | $41,044 | $41,984 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $47,810 | $40,595 | $40,563 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $47,410 | $40,274 | $40,135 |
| 4 | Yakima, WA | $44,490 | $37,928 | $39,696 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,210 | $40,917 | $36,818 |
| 6 | Bellingham, WA | $44,080 | $37,598 | $36,385 |
| 7 | Olympia, WA | $44,060 | $37,582 | $36,252 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $37,910 | $32,641 | $35,920 |
| 127 | Columbia, SC | $30,210 | $25,798 | $27,544 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 180 metros →
About the job: home health and personal care aides
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +18.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Home Health and Personal Care Aide salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Charleston, SC — $34,100
- Spartanburg, SC — $30,190
- Greenville, SC — $29,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home health and personal care aide make in Columbia, SC?
The median home health and personal care aide salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $30,210 a year, or about $14.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,940 and $33,720.
What is a home health and personal care aide’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $30,210 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $25,798 a year ($2,150 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $656 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a home health and personal care aide?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $35,800. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,544 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #127 of 180 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a home health and personal care aide 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) — 53% of a median home health and personal care aide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- Nursing Assistant — $37,400