Industrial Engineer Salary in Columbia, SC
Industrial Engineers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $98,780 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,552 take-home, or $6,129 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial engineer salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,902
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,124
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,432
- South Carolina income tax$4,770
- Take-home pay$73,552
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Industrial Engineer pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,510 | $35.34 | $57,291 | $4,774 |
| 25th percentile | $83,020 | $39.91 | $63,410 | $5,284 |
| Median (50th) | $98,780 | $47.49 | $73,552 | $6,129 |
| 75th percentile | $117,980 | $56.72 | $85,907 | $7,159 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,280 | $66.48 | $98,641 | $8,220 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $98,780 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 industrial engineer's $73,552 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,529 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Industrial Engineer jobs are about as common in Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.82).
Best-paying cities for industrial engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #72 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont, TX | $123,660 | $95,788 | $106,376 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $129,500 | $96,281 | $106,059 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $127,340 | $94,869 | $102,454 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $132,290 | $96,535 | $101,035 |
| 5 | Fort Collins, CO | $131,870 | $96,305 | $95,231 |
| 6 | Peoria, IL | $117,180 | $85,611 | $93,839 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $131,210 | $100,948 | $90,835 |
| 8 | Decatur, AL | $106,230 | $78,516 | $90,029 |
| 72 | Columbia, SC | $98,780 | $73,552 | $78,529 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Industrial Engineer salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $99,860
- Greenville, SC — $101,300
- Charleston, SC — $110,830
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in Columbia, SC?
The median industrial engineer salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $98,780 a year, or about $47.49 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $83,020 and $117,980.
What is a industrial engineer’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $98,780 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $73,552 a year ($6,129 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,770 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a industrial engineer?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $102,440. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,529 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #72 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial engineer 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) — 19% of a median industrial engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,280
- Electrical Engineer — $101,320
- Civil Engineer — $94,520