Electrician Salary in Columbia, SC
Electricians in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $60,390 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,237 take-home, or $4,020 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrician salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,067
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,744
- Medicare (1.45%)$876
- South Carolina income tax$2,466
- Take-home pay$48,237
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Electrician pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,330 | $21.79 | $37,040 | $3,087 |
| 25th percentile | $49,060 | $23.59 | $39,813 | $3,318 |
| Median (50th) | $60,390 | $29.03 | $48,237 | $4,020 |
| 75th percentile | $77,530 | $37.27 | $59,878 | $4,990 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,310 | $37.65 | $60,380 | $5,032 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,390 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 electrician's $48,237 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,501 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrician jobs are less concentrated in Columbia, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for electricians, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #144 of 221 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Vernon, WA | $104,510 | $82,353 | $80,389 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $99,850 | $79,074 | $79,012 |
| 3 | Kokomo, IN | $91,290 | $70,389 | $78,517 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $97,590 | $77,485 | $74,985 |
| 5 | Olympia, WA | $96,600 | $76,788 | $74,070 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $102,350 | $75,912 | $73,277 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $101,780 | $80,432 | $72,375 |
| 8 | Trenton, NJ | $98,210 | $73,855 | $71,579 |
| 144 | Columbia, SC | $60,390 | $48,237 | $51,501 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 221 metros →
Electrician salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $62,050
- Greenville, SC — $60,210
- Charleston, SC — $59,010
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrician make in Columbia, SC?
The median electrician salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $60,390 a year, or about $29.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,060 and $77,530.
What is a electrician’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $60,390 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $48,237 a year ($4,020 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,466 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a electrician?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $63,190. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,501 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #144 of 221 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrician 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) — 28% of a median electrician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $72,800
- Construction and Building Inspector — $62,410
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $52,070
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $48,410
- Carpenter — $48,070
- Construction Laborer — $42,630