Tax Preparer salary in Columbia, SC
Tax Preparers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $36,150 a year ($17.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,900 for the top 10%. That is 34% lower than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is 8% lower than the South Carolina statewide median of $39,220. There are 0.37 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.75). The average (mean) salary is $43,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tax preparers in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,820 | $13.38 |
| 25th percentile | $29,230 | $14.05 |
| Median | $36,150 | $17.38 |
| 75th percentile | $58,660 | $28.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,900 | $35.53 |
| Average (mean) | $43,880 | $21.10 |
Half of tax preparers 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 | $3,012.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,506.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,390.38 |
| Weekly | $695.19 |
| Hourly | $17.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tax Preparer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florence, SC | $63,600 | 60 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $63,460 | 310 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $62,350 | 210 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,350 | 850 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $44,920 | 80 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $38,390 | 60 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $30,930 | 110 |
| Sumter, SC | $30,410 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for tax preparers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $71,850 |
| California | $70,030 |
| Utah | $66,720 |
| Montana | $63,080 |
| Missouri | $62,780 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| Alaska | $62,360 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 |
| Oregon | $61,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 |
See Tax Preparer 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 |
| 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 |
| Financial Examiner | $90,260 | $43.40 |
| 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 13-2082. 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 tax preparer make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for tax preparers in the Columbia, SC metro area is $36,150 a year, or $17.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,900 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $73,900 a year. The top 25% earn $58,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,820 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $29,230 or less.
How many tax preparers work in Columbia, SC?
About 150 tax preparers are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.