Civil Engineers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $147,430 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Columbia earn between $76,850 and $124,730.
- $66K10th
- $77K25th
- $95KMedian
- $125K75th
- $147K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,260 | $8,438 | $48.68 |
| Median | $94,520 | $7,877 | $45.44 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,850 | $6,404 | $36.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $124,730 | $10,394 | $59.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Columbia earn 5% less than the South Carolina average ($107,000) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $101,260 | $94,520 | $66,490 | $147,430 | 1,070 |
| South Carolina | $107,000 | $101,600 | $67,950 | $156,380 | 7,180 |
| United States | $108,670 | $100,840 | $68,240 | $163,220 | 367,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Civil Engineers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $101,260, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $75,757 a year, or $6,313 a month and $2,914 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 civil engineers? 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 $101,260 buys what about $108,112 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 8 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($111,080).
- Charleston$111,080
- Greenville$109,430
- Columbia$101,260
- Myrtle Beach$100,980
- Florence$98,780
- Sumter$96,280
- Spartanburg$91,450
- Hilton Head Island$88,900
Highest-paying cities for civil engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($137,910).
- San Jose, CA$137,910
- San Francisco, CA$136,350
- Napa, CA$130,620
- Sacramento, CA$129,650
- Redding, CA$124,340
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Civil Engineers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Columbia?
$48.68 an hour on average, and $45.44 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $75,757 a year ($6,313 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,260.
Do civil engineers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($108,670).
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 17-2051; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 1.14, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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