Firefighter salary in Columbia, SC
Firefighters in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $36,960 a year ($17.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,060 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,240 for the top 10%. That is 38% lower than the national median of $59,280. Pay here is 13% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $42,570. There are 2.7 firefighters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for firefighters in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,460 | $14.16 |
| 25th percentile | $34,740 | $16.70 |
| Median | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| 75th percentile | $46,140 | $22.18 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,240 | $23.67 |
| Average (mean) | $40,280 | $19.37 |
Half of firefighters 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 | $3,080 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,540 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,421.54 |
| Weekly | $710.77 |
| Hourly | $17.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Firefighter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $50,210 | 640 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $47,540 | 510 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $46,830 | 1,470 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,890 | 820 |
| Sumter, SC | $43,890 | 90 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $39,980 | 1,290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $38,700 | 4,700 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $36,360 | 620 |
| Florence, SC | $32,570 | 340 |
Highest-paying states for firefighters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $100,960 |
| Washington | $94,520 |
| California | $85,120 |
| New Jersey | $84,130 |
| Illinois | $78,380 |
| Connecticut | $77,630 |
| District of Columbia | $75,870 |
| Colorado | $74,170 |
| Maryland | $73,810 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,460 |
See Firefighter pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guard | $35,140 | $16.90 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $59,260 | $28.49 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Detectives and Criminal Investigators | $66,340 | $31.89 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $73,450 | $35.31 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $26,720 | $12.85 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers | $43,140 | $20.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $61,830 | $29.73 |
| Crossing Guards and Flaggers | $32,690 | $15.72 |
| Private Detectives and Investigators | $48,000 | $23.08 |
| Protective Service Workers, All Other | $51,630 | $24.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers | $85,820 | $41.26 |
| Transportation Security Screener | $64,150 | $30.84 |
| Animal Control Worker | $41,740 | $20.07 |
More: Protective Service Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 33-2011. 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 firefighter make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for firefighters in the Columbia, SC metro area is $36,960 a year, or $17.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,240 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid firefighters make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of firefighters in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $49,240 a year. The top 25% earn $46,140 or more.
What is the starting pay for firefighters in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,460 a year, and a quarter of firefighters earn $34,740 or less.
How many firefighters work in Columbia, SC?
About 1,060 firefighters are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.