Technology Columbia, SC Pop. 131,674

Data Engineer Salary in Columbia, South Carolina

The median data engineer salary in Columbia, SC is $110,000 per year, which is 12% below the national median and 1.1% above the South Carolina state average.

City Median
$110,000
vs State Avg
+$1,250
vs National
$-15,000
Cost of Living
90%

Data Engineer Pay in Columbia: What to Expect (2026)

Columbia offers a median data engineer salary of $110,000, which is $1,250 above the South Carolina state average of $108,750. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Columbia pays below the national benchmark for this role.

Columbia's cost of living is 90% of the national average, meaning salary figures here closely reflect actual purchasing power. This makes direct comparisons to other cities straightforward.

The salary range for data engineers in Columbia spans from $68,640 at the 10th percentile to $167,200 at the 90th percentile — a $98,560 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $70,400, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $158,400. With a population of 131,674, Columbia is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Columbia by Experience

In Columbia, an entry-level data engineer earns around $70,400, while experienced professionals earn up to $158,400 per year. The local cost of living index is 90% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$70,400
$-9,600 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$111,760
$-15,240 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$158,400
$-21,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Columbia, SC

Percentile Columbia
10th Percentile $68,640
25th Percentile $88,000
Median (50th) $110,000
75th Percentile $139,040
90th Percentile $167,200

Data Engineer Salary in Other South Carolina Cities

Mount Pleasant, SC
$128,750
Pop. 94,171
Charleston, SC
$122,500
Pop. 150,227
North Charleston, SC
$116,250
Pop. 115,382
Greenville, SC
$112,500
Pop. 72,095

How to Become a Data Engineer in Columbia

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Columbia and the surrounding South Carolina area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonSQLSparkAirflowAWS/GCPData Modeling

Job Outlook

Nationally, data engineer employment is projected to grow 28% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Columbia may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Columbia

Browse open data engineer positions in Columbia, SC:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Columbia

How much does a Data Engineer make in Columbia, SC? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Columbia, South Carolina is $110,000 per year, which is 12% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $68,640 (10th percentile) to $167,200 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Columbia? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $110,000, a data engineer in Columbia earns approximately $53 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Columbia compare to the South Carolina state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Columbia's median data engineer salary of $110,000 is 1.1% above the South Carolina state average of $108,750. The local cost of living index is 90% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Columbia, SC? ▼
Columbia has a cost of living index of 90% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $110,000 in Columbia has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Columbia? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Columbia require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, SQL, Spark, Airflow. The job market is projected to grow 28% nationally over the next decade.