Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Columbia, SC
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $60,050 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,984 take-home, or $3,999 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,026
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,723
- Medicare (1.45%)$871
- South Carolina income tax$2,446
- Take-home pay$47,984
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,170 | $23.16 | $39,151 | $3,263 |
| 25th percentile | $50,710 | $24.38 | $41,040 | $3,420 |
| Median (50th) | $60,050 | $28.87 | $47,984 | $3,999 |
| 75th percentile | $62,650 | $30.12 | $49,917 | $4,160 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,010 | $36.54 | $58,900 | $4,908 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,050 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 elementary school teachers, except special education's $47,984 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,231 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 1.2× the national concentration of elementary school teachers, except special education jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #78 of 99 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,920 | $81,234 | $73,096 |
| 2 | Visalia, CA | $98,430 | $71,872 | $71,998 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $101,640 | $73,789 | $70,878 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $103,390 | $74,835 | $70,156 |
| 5 | Bridgeport, CT | $98,600 | $74,347 | $69,572 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $80,360 | $63,936 | $68,975 |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $97,400 | $71,256 | $67,805 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $98,520 | $71,925 | $67,572 |
| 78 | Columbia, SC | $60,050 | $47,984 | $51,231 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 99 metros →
About the job: elementary school teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary 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.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $60,680
- Charleston, SC — $61,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in Columbia, SC?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $60,050 a year, or about $28.87 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,710 and $62,650.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $60,050 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $47,984 a year ($3,999 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,446 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,231 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #78 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a elementary school teachers, except special 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) — 28% of a median elementary school teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.