HR Assistant salary in Columbia, SC
For this job Columbia sits right at the South Carolina figure, with a median of $45,410 a year1. That is about level with the South Carolina statewide median of $45,300, and 10.3% below the US median of $50,610. Among US areas it comes in at #288 of 384. It is the largest market for the job in South Carolina: about 380 people, 32% of the South Carolina total.
BLS occupation 43-4161, area Columbia, SC. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Columbia against South Carolina and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | $37,800 | $45,410 | $58,430 | |
| South Carolina | $33,620 | $45,300 | $58,410 | |
| United States | $37,340 | $50,610 | $68,280 |
The middle half of HR assistants in Columbia earns $39,680–$52,440. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $58,430, only 1.5 times the bottom tenth, against 1.8 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $12,760 wide, against $13,570 across South Carolina and $15,770 nationally: employers in Columbia pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for an HR assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,800 | $3,150 | $18.17 | $48,774 |
| 25th percentile | $39,680 | $3,307 | $19.08 | $51,200 |
| Median | $45,410 | $3,784 | $21.83 | $58,594 |
| 75th percentile | $52,440 | $4,370 | $25.21 | $67,665 |
| 90th percentile | $58,430 | $4,869 | $28.09 | $75,394 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $7,030 a year in pay and about $9,071 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $5,730 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,610 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Columbia, and the South Carolina statewide median of $45,300 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Columbia
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $13,184 to the $45,410 median and brings it to $58,594 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for HR assistants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Columbia
Of the 17 roles we track in Columbia, this one ranks #12 by median pay, between administrative assistants ($45,620) and e-commerce order specialists ($45,320). Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,260.
| Role | Median | vs HR assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | +2.8% | 3,260 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +0.5% | 6,610 | |
| HR Assistant | this role | 380 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -0.2% | 90 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -11.6% | 2,230 |
Measured against the US median, HR assistants rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in Columbia (-10.3%), between paralegals (-9.0%) and payroll specialists (-10.3%). The typical role here is at -10.5%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. HR assistants hold 0.8% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Columbia, 0.5% across South Carolina and 0.6% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in South Carolina
Across the 7 areas of South Carolina with data for this job, the median runs from $39,630 in the Northwestern South Carolina nonmetro area to $47,840 in Charleston-North Charleston, a gap of $8,210 a year. No other area in South Carolina has as many HR assistants, and 4 of the other 6 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | +5.4% | 160 | |
| Greenville-Anderson, SC | +5.0% | 180 | |
| Columbia, SC | this area | 380 | |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC | -1.0% | n/a | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -3.3% | 50 | |
| Spartanburg, SC | -6.8% | 90 | |
| Northwestern South Carolina (Nonmetro) | -12.7% | 30 |
Columbia against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Columbia is #47 of 382 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside South Carolina, Orlando-Kissimmee and Wausau pay just above Columbia and Ames and Jefferson City just below. All four are within $230 a year of the median in Columbia. Of the three markets with about as many HR assistants, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Columbia | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | +7.8% | 370 | jobs | |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | +7.1% | 370 | jobs | |
| Fayetteville-Springdale, AR | +1.7% | 370 | jobs | |
| Wausau, WI | +0.1% | 40 | pay | |
| Orlando-Kissimmee, FL | +0.1% | 470 | pay | |
| Columbia, SC | this area | 380 | ||
| Ames, IA | -0.5% | 40 | pay | |
| Jefferson City, MO | -0.5% | 70 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an HR assistant in Columbia, SC?
About $58,594 a year at the median, or $4,883 a month: $45,410 in pay plus about $13,184 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for HR assistants in Columbia?
The median was $45,410 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $37,800, the 90th $58,430, and the middle half earned $39,680 to $52,440.
Is Columbia cheaper than the rest of South Carolina for HR assistants?
About the same: a median of $45,410 against $45,300 statewide. The next area up in South Carolina is Greenville-Anderson at $47,700, the next down Hilton Head Island-Bluffton at $44,950.
How many HR assistants work in Columbia?
BLS counts about 380 in the May 2025 survey. That is 32% of the South Carolina total of 1,190. No other area in South Carolina has as many.
Does an HR assistant cost more than an e-commerce order specialist in Columbia?
Yes: $90 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,410 and $45,320.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4161: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.