Registered Nurse Salary in Columbia, SC
Registered Nurses in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $81,920 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,703 take-home, or $5,225 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,192
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,079
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,188
- South Carolina income tax$3,758
- Take-home pay$62,703
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 6.00% state
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,460 | $32.91 | $54,041 | $4,503 |
| 25th percentile | $75,940 | $36.51 | $58,854 | $4,905 |
| Median (50th) | $81,920 | $39.38 | $62,703 | $5,225 |
| 75th percentile | $96,190 | $46.25 | $71,885 | $5,990 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,210 | $52.02 | $79,620 | $6,635 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,920 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 registered nurse's $62,703 take-home pay has the buying power of $66,946 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Columbia, SC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.10).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #329 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 329 | Columbia, SC | $81,920 | $62,703 | $66,946 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Sumter, SC — $86,260
- Florence, SC — $81,170
- Spartanburg, SC — $82,360
- Charleston, SC — $92,800
- Greenville, SC — $81,400
- Myrtle Beach, SC — $80,640
- Hilton Head Island, SC — $81,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Columbia, SC?
The median registered nurse salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $81,920 a year, or about $39.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $75,940 and $96,190.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $81,920 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $62,703 a year ($5,225 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,758 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $66,946 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #329 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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) — 22% of a median registered nurse’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
- 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