Paramedics pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $64,190 or more. The middle half of paramedics in Columbia earn between $46,160 and $61,430.
- $41K10th
- $46K25th
- $53KMedian
- $61K75th
- $64K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,910 | $4,492 | $25.92 |
| Median | $53,160 | $4,430 | $25.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,160 | $3,847 | $22.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,430 | $5,119 | $29.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paramedics pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Paramedics in Columbia earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($55,130) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($63,360). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $60,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $53,910 | $53,160 | $41,350 | $64,190 | 490 |
| South Carolina | $55,130 | $53,550 | $40,710 | $67,180 | 2,250 |
| United States | $63,360 | $60,600 | $44,230 | $84,850 | 100,610 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Paramedics salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $53,910, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $44,238 a year, or $3,687 a month and $1,701 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 paramedics? 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 $53,910 buys what about $57,558 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Paramedics salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 6 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($59,730).
- Charleston$59,730
- Greenville$54,490
- Columbia$53,910
- Florence$53,030
- Hilton Head Island$52,210
- Spartanburg$50,620
Highest-paying cities for paramedics
Bellingham, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,190).
- Bellingham, WA$119,190
- Seattle, WA$117,660
- Bremerton, WA$110,800
- Olympia, WA$109,680
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,520
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Paramedics salary in Columbia: questions
How much do paramedics make an hour in Columbia?
$25.92 an hour on average, and $25.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paramedics salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paramedics take-home pay in Columbia?
About $44,238 a year ($3,687 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,910.
Do paramedics earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,360).
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 29-2043; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 1.91, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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