Mechanical Engineer Salary in Columbia, SC
Mechanical Engineers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $102,280 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,804 take-home, or $6,317 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,672
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,341
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,483
- South Carolina income tax$4,980
- Take-home pay$75,804
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $72,120 | $34.67 | $56,396 | $4,700 |
| 25th percentile | $80,550 | $38.73 | $61,821 | $5,152 |
| Median (50th) | $102,280 | $49.17 | $75,804 | $6,317 |
| 75th percentile | $127,220 | $61.16 | $91,745 | $7,645 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,630 | $72.42 | $106,341 | $8,862 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,280 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 mechanical engineer's $75,804 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,934 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Mechanical Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Columbia, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.60), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #51 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $135,530 | $100,221 | $110,400 |
| 2 | Beaumont, TX | $122,280 | $94,844 | $105,329 |
| 3 | Peoria, IL | $128,710 | $93,013 | $101,953 |
| 4 | Columbus, IN | $127,700 | $94,811 | $101,944 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 6 | Augusta, GA | $128,740 | $93,201 | $101,412 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $124,780 | $96,553 | $96,477 |
| 51 | Columbia, SC | $102,280 | $75,804 | $80,934 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Mechanical Engineer salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $104,990
- Greenville, SC — $101,570
- Charleston, SC — $110,820
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Columbia, SC?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $102,280 a year, or about $49.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,550 and $127,220.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $102,280 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $75,804 a year ($6,317 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,980 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,934 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #51 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical 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) — 18% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- Electrical Engineer — $101,320
- Industrial Engineer — $98,780
- Civil Engineer — $94,520