Tax Preparers pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,900 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Columbia earn between $29,230 and $58,660.
- $28K10th
- $29K25th
- $36KMedian
- $59K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,880 | $3,657 | $21.10 |
| Median | $36,150 | $3,012 | $17.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,230 | $2,436 | $14.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $58,660 | $4,888 | $28.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Columbia earn 14% less than the South Carolina average ($51,220) and 28% less than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is -34% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $43,880 | $36,150 | $27,820 | $73,900 | 150 |
| South Carolina | $51,220 | $39,220 | $28,040 | $80,880 | 1,360 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $43,880, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $36,842 a year, or $3,070 a month and $1,417 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 tax preparers? 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 $43,880 buys what about $46,849 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Florence pays the most ($65,800).
- Florence$65,800
- Greenville$63,380
- Charleston$60,500
- Columbia$43,880
- Spartanburg$38,800
- Myrtle Beach$37,760
- Sumter$33,530
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Tax Preparers salary in Columbia: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Columbia?
$21.10 an hour on average, and $17.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Columbia?
About $36,842 a year ($3,070 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,880.
Do tax preparers earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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 13-2082; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.8%.
- 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 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.