Top Paying Jobs in Columbia, SC for 2026
In 2026, Columbia, South Carolina, boasts an array of lucrative career opportunities across various sectors, including healthcare, technology, and finance. If you’re on the hunt for a high-paying job in the Columbia area, this list will streamline your search to the most rewarding professions currently available.
This article explores the 18 highest-paying jobs in Columbia for 2026, utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While many of these top positions demand significant experience, there are also attractive entry-level roles for candidates with the appropriate educational qualifications.
The highest-paying job in Columbia remains the Physician, with an impressive average annual salary of $300,122 and an entry-level salary of $154,000.
Whether you’re contemplating a career transition, considering a move to Columbia, or a recent graduate mapping out your future, this guide to the highest-paying jobs and top industries can assist you in making informed decisions about your next career steps.
Here’s a quick overview of the top 10 highest-paying jobs in Columbia, South Carolina:
Detailed List of Highest Paying Jobs in Columbia
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary | Entry Level Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physician | $300,122 | $154,000 |
| 2 | Hospitalist Physician | $275,558 | $192,000 |
| 3 | Medical Director | $237,191 | $151,000 |
| 4 | Operator and Truck Driver | $223,805 | $111,000 |
| 5 | Outpatient Psychiatrist | $219,548 | $137,000 |
| 6 | General Internist | $205,966 | $127,000 |
| 7 | Primary Care Physician | $203,012 | $117,000 |
| 8 | Ob/Gyn Physician | $200,852 | $99,000 |
| 9 | Nephrologist | $184,261 | $112,000 |
| 10 | Loan Servicing Specialist | $182,129 | $49,000 |
| 11 | Optometrist | $175,555 | $95,000 |
| 12 | Chief Executive Officer | $174,082 | $93,000 |
| 13 | Driver/Owner Operator | $164,753 | $66,000 |
| 14 | Owner/Operator | $159,708 | $100,000 |
| 15 | Senior Sales Manager | $155,907 | $102,000 |
| 16 | President | $152,274 | $88,000 |
| 17 | Vice President | $149,721 | $97,000 |
| 18 | Vice President, Business Development | $143,695 | $85,000 |
How We Determined the Highest Paid Jobs in Columbia for 2026
To identify the highest-paying jobs in Columbia, we analyzed the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and other reputable sources.
Zippia’s data science team continuously monitors millions of job postings daily to extract and match published salaries with corresponding companies, locations, and job titles across various datasets.
By calculating a weighted average based on these data inputs, we derive an estimated salary for each job title in Columbia.
In total, our analysis included salary data for over 1,000 job titles in Columbia to pinpoint the highest-paying roles.
Editor’s Note: Article updated for 2026. This marks our eighth ranking of the highest-paying jobs in Columbia.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
