Lawyer salary in Columbia, SC
Lawyers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $105,200 a year ($50.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $293,340 for the top 10%. That is 34% lower than the national median of $159,670. Pay here is 13% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $120,310. There are 4.9 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $139,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,030 | $30.30 |
| 25th percentile | $80,870 | $38.88 |
| Median | $105,200 | $50.58 |
| 75th percentile | $169,160 | $81.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $293,340 | $141.03 |
| Average (mean) | $139,580 | $67.10 |
Half of lawyers 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 | $8,766.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,383.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,046.15 |
| Weekly | $2,023.08 |
| Hourly | $50.58 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $157,180 | 5,380 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $127,280 | 1,590 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $124,970 | 1,290 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $123,960 | 630 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $120,310 | 310 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $118,950 | 440 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $107,740 | 370 |
| Sumter, SC | $101,900 | 70 |
| Florence, SC | $96,790 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
See Lawyer pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $80,820 | $38.86 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $94,400 | $45.38 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $57,220 | $27.51 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $50,920 | $24.48 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $57,160 | $27.48 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. 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 lawyer make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for lawyers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $105,200 a year, or $50.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $293,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of lawyers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $293,340 a year. The top 25% earn $169,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,030 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $80,870 or less.
How many lawyers work in Columbia, SC?
About 1,950 lawyers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.