Paramedic Salary in Columbia, SC
Paramedics in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $53,160 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,862 take-home, or $3,572 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$4,199
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,296
- Medicare (1.45%)$771
- South Carolina income tax$2,033
- Take-home pay$42,862
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Paramedic pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,350 | $19.88 | $34,081 | $2,840 |
| 25th percentile | $46,160 | $22.19 | $37,657 | $3,138 |
| Median (50th) | $53,160 | $25.56 | $42,862 | $3,572 |
| 75th percentile | $61,430 | $29.53 | $49,010 | $4,084 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,190 | $30.86 | $51,062 | $4,255 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $53,160 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 paramedic's $42,862 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,762 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 1.9× the national concentration of paramedic jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for paramedics, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #36 of 40 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $123,310 | $95,548 | $85,977 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $66,830 | $55,845 | $60,583 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $77,670 | $59,771 | $57,697 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $67,290 | $56,169 | $57,276 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $77,430 | $59,560 | $56,820 |
| 6 | Salt Lake City, UT | $71,440 | $56,839 | $56,350 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $63,450 | $53,162 | $55,183 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $79,550 | $61,095 | $54,276 |
| 36 | Columbia, SC | $53,160 | $42,862 | $45,762 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 40 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a paramedic make in Columbia, SC?
The median paramedic salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $53,160 a year, or about $25.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,160 and $61,430.
What is a paramedic’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $53,160 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $42,862 a year ($3,572 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,033 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a paramedic?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $60,600. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,762 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #36 of 40 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a paramedic 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) — 32% of a median paramedic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $228,820
- Pharmacist — $133,850
- Nurse Practitioner — $118,470
- Physical Therapist — $99,840
- Dental Hygienist — $82,370
- Registered Nurse — $81,920
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $74,080
- Medical Records Specialist — $62,650
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $62,110
- Surgical Technologist — $61,230
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $55,280