Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Columbia, SC
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $60,280 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,155 take-home, or $4,013 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,054
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,737
- Medicare (1.45%)$874
- South Carolina income tax$2,460
- Take-home pay$48,155
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,740 | $23.43 | $39,575 | $3,298 |
| 25th percentile | $50,710 | $24.38 | $41,040 | $3,420 |
| Median (50th) | $60,280 | $28.98 | $48,155 | $4,013 |
| 75th percentile | $75,180 | $36.14 | $58,365 | $4,864 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,010 | $37.50 | $60,187 | $5,016 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,280 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $48,155 take-home pay has the buying power of $51,414 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 1.2× the national concentration of secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #69 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
| 69 | Columbia, SC | $60,280 | $48,155 | $51,414 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Greenville, SC — $64,060
- Charleston, SC — $65,280
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Columbia, SC?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $60,280 a year, or about $28.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,710 and $75,180.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $60,280 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $48,155 a year ($4,013 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,460 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $51,414 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #69 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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) — 28% of a median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.