salary$115,840 a year$56 an hour · median pay in the Columbia, SC area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$91,980per year
Top pay (top 10%)$155,600per year
Jobs in the area400people work this job
Can a physician assistant afford Columbia?
Cheap. Rent of $1,394 a month takes 14.4% of the median physician assistant salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Physician Assistant pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Columbia
Registered NurseNurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Columbia, SC?
The median pay for a physician assistant in the Columbia, SC area is $115,840 a year ($56 an hour). Most earn between $91,980 and $155,600.
Can a physician assistant afford to live in Columbia?
Typical rent of $1,394 a month takes 14.4% of the median physician assistant salary, which we rate Cheap.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Columbia, SC metro area.