Columbia, SC metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does an auto mechanic make in Columbia, SC?

In the Columbia, SC metropolitan area, auto mechanics earned a median of $48,080 a year ($23.11 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 2,500 of these jobs there. That is 4% above the $46,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $31,680 and $78,430; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $39,940 in take-home pay.

Auto mechanic pay in Columbia, SC at a glance

Median salary

$48,080$23.11 per hour · $4,007 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$31,680$15.23/hr
25th percentile$37,370$17.97/hr
75th percentile$64,210$30.87/hr
90th percentile$78,430$37.71/hr
Jobs in this metro2,500Location quotient 1.40 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here4% aboveAll-jobs median $46,430
Against South Carolinaabout the same asStatewide median $48,100
Against the U.S.5% belowNational median $50,620

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Auto mechanic salary in Columbia, SC after taxes

$48,080
$15,000$100,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$48,080
Net 83%
Fed 7%
SC 2%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$39,940After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,328Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,536Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,590 / yr
South Carolina state income tax$872 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,678 / yr

Auto mechanics pay range in Columbia, SC, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Columbia, SC metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What auto mechanics earned in the Columbia, SC metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (SC)
10th percentile$15.23/hr$2,640$31,680$27,303
25th percentile$17.97/hr$3,114$37,370$31,762
MedianMedian$23.11/hr$4,007$48,080$39,940
75th percentile$30.87/hr$5,351$64,210$51,831
90th percentile$37.71/hr$6,536$78,430$61,121

Is $48,080 a good salary in Columbia, SC?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for auto mechanics next to both.

Median household income$68,359Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)93.76.3% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household70.3%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Auto mechanic pay in Columbia, SC: common questions

What is the median salary for auto mechanics in Columbia, SC?

The BLS median annual wage for auto mechanics in the Columbia, SC metro area was $48,080 in May 2025, about $4,007 a month or $23.11 an hour. Statewide, the South Carolina median for this job is $48,100, so the metro pays about the same as the state.

What is the hourly pay for auto mechanics in Columbia, SC?

The median hourly wage for auto mechanics in Columbia, SC was $23.11 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.23 an hour and one in ten earned more than $37.71.

How many auto mechanics work in Columbia, SC?

BLS estimated 2,500 jobs for auto mechanics in the metro in May 2025, or 6.3 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.40 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for auto mechanics in Columbia, SC?

BLS wage estimates for auto mechanics in Columbia, SC run from $31,680 at the 10th percentile to $37,370 at the 25th, $64,210 at the 75th, and $78,430 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do auto mechanics take home after taxes in Columbia, SC?

On a median gross salary of $48,080, an estimated $39,940 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,536 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Carolina in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $8,140 (an effective rate of 16.9%).

How much do auto mechanics make per month in Columbia, SC?

On the median annual salary of $48,080, gross monthly income is $4,007. After federal, FICA, and South Carolina state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,328 per month (or $1,536 every two weeks).

Is $48,080 a good salary in Columbia, SC?

At $48,080, the median salary for auto mechanics is 70.3% of the Columbia, SC median household income ($68,359). It is 4% above the $46,430 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 93.7, so prices here run 6.3% below the U.S. average.