Chief Executive salary in Columbia, SC
Chief Executives in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $176,890 a year ($85.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $353,060 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $213,990. Pay here is 5% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $168,840. There are 0.81 chief executives per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $206,310, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chief executives in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,450 | $39.16 |
| 25th percentile | $132,120 | $63.52 |
| Median | $176,890 | $85.04 |
| 75th percentile | $254,990 | $122.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $353,060 | $169.74 |
| Average (mean) | $206,310 | $99.19 |
Half of chief executives 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 | $14,740.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,370.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,803.46 |
| Weekly | $3,401.73 |
| Hourly | $85.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chief Executive salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $329,030 | 740 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $197,540 | 100 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $197,220 | 290 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $194,350 | 100 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $174,230 | 60 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $166,420 | 300 |
| Florence, SC | $160,660 | 60 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $144,980 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for chief executives
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $341,630 |
| Washington | $339,810 |
| Illinois | $331,920 |
| North Carolina | $314,290 |
| Virginia | $310,740 |
| New Jersey | $310,440 |
| Connecticut | $295,120 |
| Hawaii | $281,640 |
| South Dakota | $280,900 |
| New York | $257,980 |
See Chief Executive pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $103,950 | $49.98 |
| Financial Manager | $124,790 | $60.00 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $107,280 | $51.58 |
| Sales Manager | $128,650 | $61.85 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $141,570 | $68.06 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $101,830 | — |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $59,540 | $28.63 |
| Food Service Manager | $60,860 | $29.26 |
| Industrial Production Manager | $128,050 | $61.56 |
| Construction Manager | $112,180 | $53.93 |
| Education Administrators, Postsecondary | $101,150 | $48.63 |
| Marketing Manager | $136,930 | $65.83 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $101,030 | $48.57 |
| Human Resources Manager | $109,440 | $52.62 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1011. 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 chief executive make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for chief executives in the Columbia, SC metro area is $176,890 a year, or $85.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $353,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chief executives make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of chief executives in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $353,060 a year. The top 25% earn $254,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for chief executives in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,450 a year, and a quarter of chief executives earn $132,120 or less.
How many chief executives work in Columbia, SC?
About 320 chief executives are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.