Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Columbia, SC
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $59,400 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,501 take-home, or $3,958 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,948
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,683
- Medicare (1.45%)$861
- South Carolina income tax$2,407
- Take-home pay$47,501
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,760 | $23.44 | $39,590 | $3,299 |
| 25th percentile | $50,130 | $24.10 | $40,609 | $3,384 |
| Median (50th) | $59,400 | $28.56 | $47,501 | $3,958 |
| 75th percentile | $67,140 | $32.28 | $53,192 | $4,433 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,360 | $37.19 | $59,768 | $4,981 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,400 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $47,501 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,715 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 1.6× the national concentration of middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #41 of 50 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,560 | $80,981 | $72,869 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $89,950 | $67,843 | $70,785 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $96,030 | $72,680 | $70,738 |
| 4 | Bridgeport, CT | $99,360 | $74,840 | $70,033 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $84,800 | $65,883 | $69,592 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $100,810 | $73,294 | $68,858 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $105,030 | $75,815 | $68,659 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $80,580 | $64,084 | $68,231 |
| 41 | Columbia, SC | $59,400 | $47,501 | $50,715 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 50 metros →
About the job: middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Columbia, SC?
The median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $59,400 a year, or about $28.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,130 and $67,140.
What is a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $59,400 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $47,501 a year ($3,958 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,407 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $64,370. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,715 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #41 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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) — 29% of a median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.