Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Columbia, SC
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $59,400 a year, based on BLS data for 2,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,360 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $64,370. Pay here is 2% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $60,810. There are 6.2 middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $59,940, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,760 |
| 25th percentile | $50,130 |
| Median | $59,400 |
| 75th percentile | $67,140 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,360 |
| Average (mean) | $59,940 |
Half of middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,950 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,475 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,284.62 |
| Weekly | $1,142.31 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,400 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $64,600 | 370 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $62,530 | 810 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $62,270 | 1,060 |
| Florence, SC | $60,250 | 420 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $60,060 | 1,590 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $59,110 | 6,270 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $58,360 | 1,840 |
| Sumter, SC | $57,430 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,140 |
| California | $98,950 |
| New York | $94,840 |
| Connecticut | $93,610 |
| Rhode Island | $92,760 |
| Massachusetts | $89,450 |
| District of Columbia | $79,900 |
| Utah | $79,180 |
| Alaska | $78,940 |
| New Jersey | $78,770 |
See Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,050 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $60,280 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $63,270 | — |
| Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,880 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $58,860 | — |
| Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School | $65,010 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Middle School | $58,900 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Preschool | $59,360 | — |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $27,860 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $61,640 | $29.64 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $39,250 | $18.87 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $61,290 | $29.47 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in the Columbia, SC metro area is $59,400 a year. Pay ranges from $48,760 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $77,360 a year. The top 25% earn $67,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,760 a year, and a quarter of middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn $50,130 or less.
How many middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education work in Columbia, SC?
About 2,450 middle school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.