Accountants and Auditors pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,530 a year or less, while the top 10% make $109,040 or more. The middle half of accountants and auditors in Columbia earn between $58,320 and $84,300.
- $49K10th
- $58K25th
- $69KMedian
- $84K75th
- $109K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,220 | $6,352 | $36.64 |
| Median | $69,210 | $5,768 | $33.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,320 | $4,860 | $28.04 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,300 | $7,025 | $40.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Accountants and Auditors pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Accountants and auditors in Columbia earn 11% less than the South Carolina average ($85,390) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($94,750). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $83,680.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $76,220 | $69,210 | $48,530 | $109,040 | 3,260 |
| South Carolina | $85,390 | $76,560 | $50,370 | $131,220 | 15,270 |
| United States | $94,750 | $83,680 | $56,020 | $144,090 | 1,449,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Accountants and Auditors salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $76,220, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $59,713 a year, or $4,976 a month and $2,297 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for accountants and auditors? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $76,220 buys what about $81,378 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Accountants and Auditors salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 8th of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($91,850).
- Charleston$91,850
- Hilton Head Island$88,120
- Greenville$86,260
- Sumter$85,540
- Spartanburg$83,760
- Florence$81,730
- Myrtle Beach$79,490
- Columbia$76,220
Highest-paying cities for accountants and auditors
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($128,520).
- San Jose, CA$128,520
- San Francisco, CA$120,780
- New York, NY$119,280
- Washington, DC$113,640
- Midland, TX$111,820
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Accountants and Auditors salary in Columbia: questions
How much do accountants and auditors make an hour in Columbia?
$36.65 an hour on average, and $33.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level accountants and auditors salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,530 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the accountants and auditors take-home pay in Columbia?
About $59,713 a year ($4,976 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,220.
Do accountants and auditors earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. average for this job ($94,750).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2011; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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