Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Columbia, SC
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $37,530 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,241 take-home, or $2,603 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,324
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,327
- Medicare (1.45%)$544
- South Carolina income tax$1,095
- Take-home pay$31,241
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,800 | $14.33 | $25,493 | $2,124 |
| 25th percentile | $34,820 | $16.74 | $29,226 | $2,435 |
| Median (50th) | $37,530 | $18.04 | $31,241 | $2,603 |
| 75th percentile | $45,970 | $22.10 | $37,516 | $3,126 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,440 | $22.81 | $38,609 | $3,217 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,530 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 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $31,241 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,355 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 1.3× the national concentration of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #117 of 164 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo, IA | $47,440 | $39,147 | $44,967 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | $38,328 | $41,797 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $46,830 | $38,286 | $41,135 |
| 5 | Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $38,919 | $41,122 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | $35,978 | $40,441 |
| 7 | Youngstown, OH | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $43,390 | $37,044 | $40,197 |
| 117 | Columbia, SC | $37,530 | $31,241 | $33,355 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 164 metros →
About the job: laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $37,540
- Greenville, SC — $38,520
- Charleston, SC — $38,090
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Columbia, SC?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $37,530 a year, or about $18.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,820 and $45,970.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $37,530 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $31,241 a year ($2,603 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,095 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,355 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #117 of 164 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 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) — 44% of a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $51,280
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,180