Columbia Employment

Employment and Industries in the Columbia, South Carolina Area

Columbia has a diversified economy. Some of the major employers are state government, Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC, the University of South Carolina and the Palmetto Health hospital system. In addition, Fort Jackson, the U.S. Army's second largest training facility, is located in Columbia.

Columbia also includes the headquarters of the Fortune 500 company SCANA. Other companies with headquarters in Columbia include Colonial Supplemental Insurance, a major supplemental insurance company, Collexis Holdings Inc, a software development firm, Spectrum Medical, an international medical software company, Nelson Mullins a major national law firm and First Citizens bank, one of the largest state-based banks.

Major manufacturers with facilities in Columbia include CMC Steel, Square D, Michelin, Spirax Sacro, Honeywell, Westinghouse Electric, International Paper, Trane, Bose Corporation Technology, Pirelli Cables, Harsco Track Tech and Solectron. The region also includes more than 70 foreign affiliated firms.

Accolades for Columbia, South Carolina: Forbes named Columbia as a "Best Small Place to do Business". Entrepreneur.com, Inc., ranked Columbia #8 for midsize metropolitan areas in its hot cities for entrepreneurs list. Columbia was named as one of America's 50 hottest cities for corporate expansion and relocation by Expansion Management.

The following is a list of the major employers in the greater Columbia area:

  • Palmetto Health
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Richland School System
  • SCE&G
  • UPS
  • Wachovia Bank, N.A.
  • Branch Banking and Trust Company
  • City of Columbia
  • Santee Cooper
  • Papa John's Pizza
  • Bank of America
  • Richland County
  • Sisters of Charity Providence Hospitals
  • Michelin North America
  • Bell South
  • Babcock Center, Inc
  • Piggly Wiggly, Inc
  • SC State Dept., of Education
  • Bose Corporation

The major job providing segments in Columbia, South Carolina:

  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Manufacturing
  • Social assistance
  • Accommodation and food services
  • Financial activities
  • Government

Notable details regarding Columbia, South Carolina: Estimated median household income in 2007: $35,000. Cost of living index in 2008: 87.5. Population 25 years and older holding a bachelor's degree or better: 36%.

Columbia businesses can contact the following helpful associations:

TheState.com provides readers with details about local business and industry.

Jobs in Columbia

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations382550$45,860$22.05100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations57950$37,360$17.9613.75
3Sales and Related Occupations41170$38,320$18.429.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations34060$21,910$10.538.7
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations32470$32,710$15.736.7
6Production Occupations23580$41,040$19.735.6
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations22860$73,510$35.345.85
8Educational Instruction and Library Occupations20890$52,060$25.036
9Business and Financial Operations Occupations19200$63,710$30.635.35
10Management Occupations17780$109,050$52.436.35
11Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations16720$47,000$22.63.75
12Healthcare Support Occupations15090$27,620$13.282.85
13Construction and Extraction Occupations14550$44,010$21.164.6
14Fast Food and Counter Workers13920$18,650$8.972.45
15Protective Service Occupations13580$38,760$18.642.2
16Cashiers11660$21,220$10.22.2
17Retail Salespersons11500$27,610$13.272.7
18Customer Service Representatives11260$34,360$16.521.75
19Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand11240$28,540$13.721.8
20Computer and Mathematical Occupations11140$73,360$35.273
21Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations10560$26,230$12.613.6
22Registered Nurses8670$64,290$30.911.95
23Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive8240$36,580$17.591.4
24First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers7200$53,080$25.520.95
25Personal Care and Service Occupations7200$27,260$13.114.65
26Community and Social Service Occupations7140$43,520$20.921.75
27General and Operations Managers6650$108,630$52.231.5
28Home Health and Personal Care Aides6280$22,930$11.020
29Security Guards6150$34,050$16.370.7
30Office Clerks, General5950$27,430$13.191.9
31Architecture and Engineering Occupations5410$75,270$36.191.7
32Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners5330$24,690$11.871.5
33Waiters and Waitresses4870$20,520$9.871.65
34Maintenance and Repair Workers, General4780$36,790$17.690.9
35First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers4710$41,390$19.90.95
36Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers4570$44,010$21.161.2
37Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations4330$51,890$24.951.8
38Legal Occupations4100$81,830$39.340.8
39Stockers and Order Fillers4060$25,900$12.451.25
40Accountants and Auditors3900$61,720$29.670.9
41Nursing Assistants3740$26,880$12.930.95
42Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products3670$68,220$32.80.85
43Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators3540$33,860$16.280.8
44First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers3340$34,030$16.360.6
45Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks3320$37,960$18.251.05
46Cooks, Restaurant3320$24,280$11.670.9
47Construction Laborers2870$33,180$15.950.9
48Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers2750$43,750$21.030.4
49Computer User Support Specialists2480$49,490$23.790.4
50Management Analysts2470$75,550$36.320.55
51Cooks, Fast Food2240$19,830$9.530.3
52Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations2200$63,230$30.40.8
53Light Truck Drivers2180$35,030$16.840.6
54First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers2160$61,000$29.330.4
55Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity2130$25,370$12.20.3
56Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel2090$57,160$27.480.7
57Carpenters2080$47,910$23.030.6
58Medical Assistants2060$30,570$14.70.45
59Insurance Sales Agents2010$73,080$35.130.3
60Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics1960$43,400$20.860.5
61Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers1930$27,670$13.30.75
62Paralegals and Legal Assistants1890$47,180$22.680.2
63Lawyers1850$120,210$57.790.5
64Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1840$40,120$19.290.35
65Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses1830$44,000$21.160.5
66Correctional Officers and Jailers1810$35,940$17.280.25
67Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1790$21,500$10.340.9
68First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers1750$67,630$32.510.3
69First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers1750$69,760$33.540.4
70Receptionists and Information Clerks1710$28,780$13.840.7
71Network and Computer Systems Administrators1680$78,640$37.810.2
72Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers1660$82,100$39.470.65
73Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors1640$53,160$25.560.2
74Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators1640$34,740$16.70.4
75Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants1590$36,460$17.530.4
76Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks1580$33,490$16.10.4
77Substitute Teachers, Short-Term1580$22,660$10.90.4
78Computer Systems Analysts1540$78,880$37.920.4
79Electricians1510$48,880$23.50.45
80Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists1510$55,260$26.570.45
81Industrial Machinery Mechanics1440$56,440$27.140.2
82Bill and Account Collectors1410$32,960$15.850.15
83Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria1380$24,720$11.890.3
84Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters1350$45,130$21.70.3
85Recreation Workers1340$22,580$10.860.3
86First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors1330$53,930$25.930.3
87Human Resources Specialists1320$62,300$29.950.4
88Packers and Packagers, Hand1320$24,850$11.950.4
89Billing and Posting Clerks1300$33,600$16.150.3
90Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other1280$62,210$29.910.7
91Food Preparation Workers1260$23,200$11.150.5
92Financial Managers1230$123,720$59.480.4
93Training and Development Specialists1230$61,380$29.510.2
94Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks1210$37,480$18.020.2
95Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators1180$64,730$31.120.2
96Computer Programmers1150$83,040$39.920.15
97Civil Engineers1100$80,400$38.650.2
98Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians1090$49,110$23.610.2
99Social and Human Service Assistants1090$31,050$14.930.3
100Child, Family, and School Social Workers1080$35,430$17.040.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Columbia Colleges
Columbia colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Columbia Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,860382,550
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$37,36057,950
Sales and Related Occupations$38,32041,170
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$21,91034,060
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$32,71032,470
Production Occupations$41,04023,580
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$73,51022,860
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$52,06020,890
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$63,71019,200
Management Occupations$109,05017,780
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,00016,720
Healthcare Support Occupations$27,62015,090
Construction and Extraction Occupations$44,01014,550
Fast Food and Counter Workers$18,65013,920
Protective Service Occupations$38,76013,580
Cashiers$21,22011,660
Retail Salespersons$27,61011,500
Customer Service Representatives$34,36011,260
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$28,54011,240
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,36011,140
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,23010,560
Registered Nurses$64,2908,670
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,5808,240
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$53,0807,200
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,2607,200
Community and Social Service Occupations$43,5207,140
General and Operations Managers$108,6306,650
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$22,9306,280
Security Guards$34,0506,150
Office Clerks, General$27,4305,950
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$75,2705,410
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,6905,330
Waiters and Waitresses$20,5204,870
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$36,7904,780
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,3904,710
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,0104,570
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$51,8904,330
Legal Occupations$81,8304,100
Stockers and Order Fillers$25,9004,060
Accountants and Auditors$61,7203,900
Nursing Assistants$26,8803,740
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,2203,670
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,8603,540
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,0303,340
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$37,9603,320
Cooks, Restaurant$24,2803,320
Construction Laborers$33,1802,870
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$43,7502,750
Computer User Support Specialists$49,4902,480
Management Analysts$75,5502,470

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Columbia, South Carolina Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,860382,550
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$37,36057,950
Sales and Related Occupations$38,32041,170
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$32,71032,470
Production Occupations$41,04023,580
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$73,51022,860
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$52,06020,890
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$63,71019,200
Management Occupations$109,05017,780
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,00016,720
Healthcare Support Occupations$27,62015,090
Construction and Extraction Occupations$44,01014,550
Protective Service Occupations$38,76013,580
Retail Salespersons$27,61011,500
Customer Service Representatives$34,36011,260
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$28,54011,240
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$73,36011,140
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,23010,560
Registered Nurses$64,2908,670
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$36,5808,240
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$53,0807,200
Personal Care and Service Occupations$27,2607,200
Community and Social Service Occupations$43,5207,140
General and Operations Managers$108,6306,650
Security Guards$34,0506,150
Office Clerks, General$27,4305,950
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$75,2705,410
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$36,7904,780
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$41,3904,710
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,0104,570
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$51,8904,330
Legal Occupations$81,8304,100
Stockers and Order Fillers$25,9004,060
Accountants and Auditors$61,7203,900
Nursing Assistants$26,8803,740
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$68,2203,670
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,8603,540
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,0303,340
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$37,9603,320
Construction Laborers$33,1802,870
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$43,7502,750
Computer User Support Specialists$49,4902,480
Management Analysts$75,5502,470
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$63,2302,200
Light Truck Drivers$35,0302,180
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$61,0002,160
Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$25,3702,130
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$57,1602,090
Carpenters$47,9102,080
Medical Assistants$30,5702,060

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