Software Developer salary in Columbia, SC
Software Developers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $123,380 a year ($59.32 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $70,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,460 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 5% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $129,450. There are 5.3 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $122,260, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,950 | $34.11 |
| 25th percentile | $90,120 | $43.33 |
| Median | $123,380 | $59.32 |
| 75th percentile | $148,230 | $71.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,460 | $82.91 |
| Average (mean) | $122,260 | $58.78 |
Half of software developers 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 | $10,281.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,140.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,745.38 |
| Weekly | $2,372.69 |
| Hourly | $59.32 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $135,920 | 20,820 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $132,150 | 2,050 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $125,760 | 260 |
| Sumter, SC | $121,880 | 50 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $121,790 | 2,070 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $119,780 | 910 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $114,460 | 440 |
| Florence, SC | $108,460 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analyst | $90,760 | $43.64 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $86,650 | $41.66 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $91,920 | $44.19 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,560 | $36.81 |
| Information Security Analyst | $101,330 | $48.71 |
| Computer Network Architect | $125,510 | $60.34 |
| Database Administrator | $83,330 | $40.06 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $86,320 | $41.50 |
| Database Architect | $135,790 | $65.28 |
| Computer Programmer | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $80,930 | $38.91 |
| Data Scientist | $88,260 | $42.43 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $79,560 | $38.25 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1252. 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 software developer make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for software developers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $123,380 a year, or $59.32 an hour. Pay ranges from $70,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,460 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of software developers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $172,460 a year. The top 25% earn $148,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $70,950 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $90,120 or less.
How many software developers work in Columbia, SC?
About 2,070 software developers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.