Medical Assistant Salary in Columbia, SC: $42,702 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time medical assistant in Columbia, SC earns a median $42,702/year (≈ $20.53/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-9092). Once you factor in Columbia's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.7), that paycheck buys what $45,592 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.4% below the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Columbia, South Carolina, offers a competitive landscape for medical assistants, with a projected median annual salary of $42,702 in 2026, which is approximately 10.97% below the national median of $47,961. The salary range for medical assistants in this area spans from $37,170 at the lower end to $49,903 at the high end. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, reflects the significant variances in pay across different healthcare settings within the market. Notably, specialty practices such as dermatology and orthopedics tend to offer higher compensation than primary care positions, creating a compelling rationale for professionals to seek opportunities within these specialized fields.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,170 | $17.87 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $39,143 | $18.82 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $42,702 | $20.53 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48,045 | $23.09 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $49,903 | $24.00 |
Median Salary Position
10.97% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Columbia
In Columbia, SC, the medical assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $12,733 (2026 est.). At $42,702, the local median is 10.97% below the national median of $47,961.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Columbia: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Columbia Medical Assistant Pay Compares
Columbia median: $42,702/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Columbia Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $42,873 | -0.40% less |
| National Average | $47,961 | -10.97% less |
Medical Assistants in Columbia, SC earn a median of $42,702 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.97% lower than the national median of $47,961 and 0.40% below the South Carolina state average of $42,873.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Columbia has a cost of living 6.34% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Columbia, SC has a cost-of-living index of 93.662 (below the national average of 100). A medical assistant earning $42,702 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $45,592 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.77% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$30,010
2025 BLS Actual
$40,680
2026 Current Est.
$42,702
2019–2027 Growth
+49.4%
Salary Trajectory for Medical Assistants in Columbia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.97% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $30,010 | Actual |
| 2020 | $30,140 | Actual |
| 2021 | $30,100 | Actual |
| 2022 | $35,680 | Actual |
| 2023 | $36,940 | Actual |
| 2024 | $38,230 | Actual |
| 2025 | $40,680 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $42,702 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $44,824 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Columbia metropolitan area, the median medical assistant salary grew 35.6% from $30,010 (2019) to $40,680 (2025). At a 4.97% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $44,824 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,814 (49.36%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Columbia metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.97% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $37,170 – $39,143 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $39,143 – $42,702 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $42,702 – $48,045 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $48,045 – $49,903 |
MA, CMA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual medical assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Medical Assistant Job Market in Columbia
With 2,190 medical assistants employed in Columbia, the job market remains robust, even as the cost-of-living index sits below the national average at 93.662. This index indicates that while the salaries may be slightly lower than the national norm, the local purchasing power is relatively favorable, allowing professionals to maintain a solid standard of living. Employers like specialty practices and urgent care chains often pay more than primary care offices, primarily due to the demand for specialized skills. Factors contributing to the pay disparity include the specialty practice premium and the potential for higher wages for bilingual medical assistants or those with additional certifications such as phlebotomy or EKG training. To optimize earning potential in this market, aspiring medical assistants should consider gaining certifications and targeting employment within higher-paying specialties or urgent care facilities.
More salary data for Columbia, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do medical assistants make in Columbia, SC in 2026?
Is Columbia, SC a good place to work as a medical assistant?
Can medical assistants make $100K in Columbia?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted medical assistant salary in Columbia?
How much does a medical assistant make per hour in Columbia?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in South Carolina
Written by Emma Chen, CMA
Career Analyst
Emma has over 8 years of experience as a medical assistant. She has worked in both outpatient clinics and hospitals. Her expertise includes patient care and administrative support.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $40,680 for medical assistantsin the Columbia metropolitan area. A 4.97% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.97%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for medical assistants (SOC 31-9092).
Compiled and verified by Emma Chen, CMA, a licensed medical assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov