SOC 29-1071 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physician Assistants — Columbia
Columbia, SC · 6 metro areas compared
In Columbia, SC the median wage is $115,840.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Columbia, SC the median wage is $115,840. That is 14.7% lower than the national median of $135,880. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $107,400 and $131,440. The lowest tenth earn under $91,980, while the highest tenth earn more than $155,600.
The area has 400 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.97 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Charleston leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $128,920. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 33rd of 511 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $91,980 | −32.3% |
| 25th | $107,400 | −21.0% |
| Median (50th) | $115,840 | −14.7% |
| 75th | $131,440 | −3.3% |
| 90th | $155,600 | +14.5% |
| Mean | $117,840 | −13.3% |
Other metro areas in South Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | $128,920 | 620 | |
| 2 | Myrtle Beach | $125,700 | 140 | |
| 3 | Hilton Head Island | $125,350 | 80 | |
| 4 | Greenville | $123,310 | 440 | |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $121,990 | 80 | |
| 6 | Florence | $120,290 | 90 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbia run 6.3% below the national average, so the median of $115,840 goes as far as $123,629 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$115,840as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$123,629US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $115,840 a year, 14.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $91,980 to $155,600 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 400 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charleston, at $128,920.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physician Assistants in Columbia, SC?
The median annual wage is $115,840, or $55.69 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $135,880, so pay in Columbia, SC is 14.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Columbia, SC earns more than $155,600 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $91,980 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Charleston, at $128,920 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 400 jobs in this occupation in Columbia, SC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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