Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,110 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineering technologists and technicians in Columbia earn between $59,360 and $86,740.
- $49K10th
- $59K25th
- $73KMedian
- $87K75th
- $96K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $72,800 | $6,067 | $35.00 |
| Median | $72,830 | $6,069 | $35.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,360 | $4,947 | $28.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,740 | $7,228 | $41.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $72,800, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $57,534 a year, or $4,794 a month and $2,213 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 mechanical engineering technologists and technicians? 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 $72,800 buys what about $77,726 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 5 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Florence pays the most ($73,730).
- Florence$73,730
- Charleston$73,330
- Columbia$72,800
- Spartanburg$69,460
- Greenville$67,950
All Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salaries in South Carolina
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($133,940).
- Baton Rouge, LA$133,940
- Kennewick, WA$112,060
- Des Moines, IA$108,940
- San Francisco, CA$104,910
- San Jose, CA$104,510
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by city
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Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in Columbia: questions
How much do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians make an hour in Columbia?
$35.00 an hour on average, and $35.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineering technologists and technicians salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineering technologists and technicians take-home pay in Columbia?
About $57,534 a year ($4,794 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $72,800.
Do mechanical engineering technologists and technicians earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($77,510).
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 17-3027; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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