Quick answer:Nurse Practitioners in the Columbia area earn a median $118,470 per year, below the national median of $132,300, and the metro employs about 920 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Nurse Practitioner Pay in Columbia, SC
Metric
Columbia metro
South Carolina
National
Median annual wage
$118,470
$123,290
$132,300
10th percentile
$97,010
$97,080
$101,340
25th percentile
$105,970
$107,930
$117,990
75th percentile
$130,230
$132,220
$156,700
90th percentile
$150,700
$160,170
$174,420
Employment
920
5,670
323,040
Location quotient
1.12
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Columbia median of $118,470 is below the national median of $132,300, and below the South Carolina statewide median of $123,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.12 means nurse practitioners are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Clinical placement is local: graduate nursing programs require supervised hours completed in person, and preceptor availability tracks the local health system.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses. The national framework is a graduate degree (MSN or DNP) from a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN, national certification through AANP or ANCC, and APRN licensure issued by the state board of nursing. How much a nurse practitioner may do independently - full, reduced or restricted practice authority - is set by each state and is one of the most consequential differences between them.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
The median annual wage for nurse practitioners in the Columbia, SC metro area is $118,470, below the national median of $132,300 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many nurse practitioners work in the Columbia area?
The Columbia, SC metro area employs about 920 nurse practitioners (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do nurse practitioners in Columbia need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses. The national framework is a graduate degree (MSN or DNP) from a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN, national certification through AANP or ANCC, and APRN licensure issued by the state board of nursing. How much a nurse practitioner may do independently - full, reduced or restricted practice authority - is set by each state and is one of the most consequential differences between them. Confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing.
Can I study nurse practitioner online from Columbia?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of nursing.
Is Columbia a better market than the rest of South Carolina?
The Columbia metro median is $118,470 against a statewide median of $123,290 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
