Pharmacist Salary in Columbia, SC
Pharmacists in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $133,850 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,879 take-home, or $7,990 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,858
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,299
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,941
- South Carolina income tax$6,874
- Take-home pay$95,879
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 6.00% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,390 | $39.13 | $62,362 | $5,197 |
| 25th percentile | $114,510 | $55.05 | $83,674 | $6,973 |
| Median (50th) | $133,850 | $64.35 | $95,879 | $7,990 |
| 75th percentile | $152,600 | $73.37 | $107,569 | $8,964 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,540 | $81.51 | $118,131 | $9,844 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,850 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 pharmacist's $95,879 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,367 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 1.3× the national concentration of pharmacist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #92 of 120 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, MN | $164,250 | $113,470 | $124,938 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls, SD | $148,330 | $112,650 | $124,295 |
| 3 | McAllen, TX | $137,700 | $105,384 | $122,689 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $150,500 | $114,133 | $120,500 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | $137,970 | $101,816 | $120,114 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $199,040 | $131,343 | $118,945 |
| 7 | Spartanburg, SC | $153,610 | $108,199 | $118,833 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $142,040 | $106,840 | $117,573 |
| 92 | Columbia, SC | $133,850 | $95,879 | $102,367 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 120 metros →
Pharmacist salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Spartanburg, SC — $153,610
- Greenville, SC — $135,580
- Charleston, SC — $145,950
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Columbia, SC?
The median pharmacist salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $133,850 a year, or about $64.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $114,510 and $152,600.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $133,850 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $95,879 a year ($7,990 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,874 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,367 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #92 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist 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) — 14% of a median pharmacist’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
- 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
- Paramedic — $53,160