Nursing Assistant Salary in Columbia, SC
Nursing Assistants in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $37,400 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,144 take-home, or $2,595 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,308
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,319
- Medicare (1.45%)$542
- South Carolina income tax$1,087
- Take-home pay$31,144
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,450 | $14.64 | $25,977 | $2,165 |
| 25th percentile | $34,020 | $16.36 | $28,631 | $2,386 |
| Median (50th) | $37,400 | $17.98 | $31,144 | $2,595 |
| 75th percentile | $39,340 | $18.91 | $32,586 | $2,716 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,920 | $22.08 | $37,479 | $3,123 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,400 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 nursing assistant's $31,144 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,251 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 1.5× the national concentration of nursing assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #86 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 86 | Columbia, SC | $37,400 | $31,144 | $33,251 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $37,220
- Charleston, SC — $38,810
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in Columbia, SC?
The median nursing assistant salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $37,400 a year, or about $17.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,020 and $39,340.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $37,400 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $31,144 a year ($2,595 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,087 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,251 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #86 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant 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 nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $30,210