Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary in Columbia, SC
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $60,280 a year, based on BLS data for 3,310 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,010 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $72,040. Pay here is 4% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $62,580. There are 8.4 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $62,620, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,740 |
| 25th percentile | $50,710 |
| Median | $60,280 |
| 75th percentile | $75,180 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,010 |
| Average (mean) | $62,620 |
Half of secondary 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 | $5,023.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,511.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,318.46 |
| Weekly | $1,159.23 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because secondary 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 $60,280 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.
Secondary 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 | $65,290 | 680 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $65,280 | 2,430 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $64,060 | 2,700 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $63,420 | 1,430 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $62,910 | 1,120 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $62,580 | 790 |
| Florence, SC | $60,950 | 700 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $60,300 | 8,500 |
| Sumter, SC | $60,110 | 310 |
Highest-paying states for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 |
| California | $101,370 |
| New York | $97,070 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 |
| District of Columbia | $82,750 |
| New Jersey | $82,200 |
| Connecticut | $80,970 |
| Illinois | $79,990 |
| Alaska | $79,650 |
See Secondary 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 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $59,400 | — |
| 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 25-2031. 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 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in the Columbia, SC metro area is $60,280 a year. Pay ranges from $48,740 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $78,010 a year. The top 25% earn $75,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,740 a year, and a quarter of secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education earn $50,710 or less.
How many secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education work in Columbia, SC?
About 3,310 secondary school teachers, except special and Career/Technical education are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.