Financial Examiner salary in Columbia, SC
Financial Examiners in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $90,260 a year ($43.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,420 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $94,160. Pay here is 4% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $86,440. There are 0.21 financial examiners per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $106,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for financial examiners in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,910 | $27.84 |
| 25th percentile | $71,890 | $34.56 |
| Median | $90,260 | $43.40 |
| 75th percentile | $129,570 | $62.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,420 | $82.41 |
| Average (mean) | $106,340 | $51.13 |
Half of financial examiners 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 | $7,521.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,760.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,471.54 |
| Weekly | $1,735.77 |
| Hourly | $43.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Financial Examiner salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $158,960 | 80 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $105,240 | 1,670 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $78,290 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for financial examiners
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $198,720 |
| New York | $128,920 |
| Connecticut | $120,530 |
| Washington | $113,700 |
| Massachusetts | $111,110 |
| New Jersey | $106,410 |
| California | $106,000 |
| Minnesota | $104,260 |
| Virginia | $104,060 |
| Maryland | $102,980 |
See Financial Examiner pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $69,210 | $33.27 |
| Loan Officer | $64,660 | $31.09 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $87,630 | $42.13 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $94,130 | $45.26 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $75,290 | $36.20 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $65,170 | $31.33 |
| Tax Preparer | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| Budget Analyst | $82,980 | $39.89 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $59,110 | $28.42 |
| Credit Analyst | $81,740 | $39.30 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $94,620 | $45.49 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $73,210 | $35.20 |
| Management Analyst | $93,250 | $44.83 |
| Project Management Specialist | $85,260 | $40.99 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2061. 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 financial examiner make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for financial examiners in the Columbia, SC metro area is $90,260 a year, or $43.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,910 for the lowest-paid 10% to $171,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid financial examiners make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of financial examiners in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $171,420 a year. The top 25% earn $129,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for financial examiners in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,910 a year, and a quarter of financial examiners earn $71,890 or less.
How many financial examiners work in Columbia, SC?
About 80 financial examiners are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.