Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in Columbia, SC
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median $27,860 a year — 24% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $24,038 take-home, or $2,003 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in Columbia, SC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,176
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,727
- Medicare (1.45%)$404
- South Carolina income tax$515
- Take-home pay$24,038
Marginal rate: 10% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay by experience in Columbia, SC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,430 | $10.78 | $19,768 | $1,647 |
| 25th percentile | $23,880 | $11.48 | $20,918 | $1,743 |
| Median (50th) | $27,860 | $13.39 | $24,038 | $2,003 |
| 75th percentile | $36,770 | $17.68 | $30,676 | $2,556 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,510 | $21.88 | $37,174 | $3,098 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Carolina resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $27,860 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary's $24,038 take-home pay has the buying power of $25,665 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary jobs are less concentrated in Columbia, SC than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, except postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Columbia, SC ranks #91 of 94 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $53,950 | $45,529 | $40,968 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $45,510 | $38,747 | $38,717 |
| 3 | Portland, ME | $48,770 | $39,256 | $38,540 |
| 4 | Modesto, CA | $47,990 | $39,187 | $37,641 |
| 5 | Visalia, CA | $45,230 | $37,136 | $37,201 |
| 6 | Fresno, CA | $45,340 | $37,218 | $36,432 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $49,010 | $39,932 | $36,163 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $46,330 | $37,961 | $35,664 |
| 91 | Columbia, SC | $27,860 | $24,038 | $25,665 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 94 metros →
About the job: teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Typical education
- Some college, no degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salaries elsewhere in South Carolina
- Charleston, SC — $28,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Columbia, SC?
The median teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary in the Columbia, SC metro area is $27,860 a year, or about $13.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $23,880 and $36,770.
What is a teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s take-home pay in Columbia, SC?
On the median $27,860 salary, a single filer living in South Carolina takes home about $24,038 a year ($2,003 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $515 in South Carolina taxes in 2026.
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a teaching assistants, except postsecondary?
Pay here is 24% below the national median of $36,780. Local prices are 6.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $25,665 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbia, SC ranks #91 of 94 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, except postsecondary 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) — 57% of a median teaching assistants, except postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.