Quick answer:Registered Nurses in the Columbia area earn a median $81,920 per year, below the national median of $97,550, and the metro employs about 9,400 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Nursing Pay in Columbia, SC
Metric
Columbia metro
South Carolina
National
Median annual wage
$81,920
$82,360
$97,550
10th percentile
$68,460
$66,860
$68,940
25th percentile
$75,940
$77,320
$80,330
75th percentile
$96,190
$97,230
$112,350
90th percentile
$108,210
$106,520
$137,470
Employment
9,400
49,750
3,379,720
Location quotient
1.1
-
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 $81,920 is below the national median of $97,550, and below the South Carolina statewide median of $82,360 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.1 means registered nurses 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.
Nursing is the one degree on this site where the training itself is geographically anchored: clinical rotations are completed in local hospitals and clinics, so program availability tracks the local health system.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Every state licenses registered nurses through its own board of nursing. The national constants are the degree (an ADN or BSN from a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN) and the NCLEX-RN examination administered through NCSBN. Many states also participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which can allow practice across member states on one multistate license.
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 registered nurses in the Columbia, SC metro area is $81,920, below the national median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many registered nurses work in the Columbia area?
The Columbia, SC metro area employs about 9,400 registered nurses (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do registered nurses in Columbia need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Every state licenses registered nurses through its own board of nursing. The national constants are the degree (an ADN or BSN from a program accredited by CCNE or ACEN) and the NCLEX-RN examination administered through NCSBN. Many states also participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which can allow practice across member states on one multistate license. Confirm current requirements with your state board of nursing.
Can I study nursing 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 $81,920 against a statewide median of $82,360 (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 - Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), 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/.
