Computer Programmers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,330 or more. The middle half of computer programmers in Columbia earn between $73,990 and $130,770.
- $63K10th
- $74K25th
- $98KMedian
- $131K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,940 | $8,162 | $47.09 |
| Median | $98,490 | $8,208 | $47.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $73,990 | $6,166 | $35.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,770 | $10,898 | $62.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Computer Programmers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $97,940, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $73,594 a year, or $6,133 a month and $2,831 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 computer programmers? 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 $97,940 buys what about $104,567 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Computer Programmers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 4 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($115,960).
- Charleston$115,960
- Greenville$103,550
- Columbia$97,940
- Myrtle Beach$93,760
Highest-paying cities for computer programmers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($150,780).
- San Jose, CA$150,780
- Boulder, CO$139,840
- Portland, ME$138,860
- Fayetteville, AR$130,080
- San Diego, CA$129,530
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Computer Programmers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do computer programmers make an hour in Columbia?
$47.09 an hour on average, and $47.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level computer programmers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $73,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the computer programmers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $73,594 a year ($6,133 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,940.
Do computer programmers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($107,279).
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 15-1251; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- 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 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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