Plant and System Operators, All Other Salary in Columbia, SC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Columbia, SC

Median annual salary $69,800 +13.1% vs national
Median hourly $33.56
10th percentile $49,840
90th percentile $75,170
Employed locally 30
National median $61,710

Compare Plant and System Operators, All Other salary & buying power

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Plant and System Operators, All Other
in
Columbia, SC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $49,840
    25th
    $53,130
    50th (median)
    $69,800
    75th
    $75,170
    90th
    $75,170

    Columbia economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,146 2023 • Census ACS
    Plant and System Operators, All Other salary vs area income 106% Median Plant and System Operators, All Other salary is 6% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Plant and System Operators, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $87,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $85,590
    Duluth, MN-WI $85,510
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $85,300
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,840
    Billings, MT $83,530

    Nearby metros — Plant and System Operators, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,840
    Wisconsin $70,010
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $59,880
    Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $57,800

    Related occupations in Columbia, SC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $39,150
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $46,710
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $74,920
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $38,280
    Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers $36,130
    Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers $48,430

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Plant and System Operators, All Other make per hour in Columbia?

    The median hourly wage for Plant and System Operators, All Other in Columbia, SC is $33.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $38.02 or more per hour.

    Is Columbia above or below average for Plant and System Operators, All Other salaries?

    The median Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Columbia, SC is 13.1% above the national median of $61,710. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Plant and System Operators, All Other in Columbia?

    Entry-level Plant and System Operators, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $49,840 per year in Columbia, SC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $53,130.