Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Columbia, SC
Pay for medical laboratory scientists in the Columbia area centers on $24.96 per hour, or about $51,920 a year. The lower quarter earns under $19.28 and the upper quarter over $31.75. That ranks 254th of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 232nd of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Columbia. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Columbia.
- $24.96median pay per hour, Columbia
- $19–$32typical range per hour
- 790employed in the metro area
- 94cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Columbia, SC
The metro median is 1% below the South Carolina statewide median of $25.14 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 790 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Columbia metro area, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.92).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $16.36 | $34,030 | 45% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $19.28 | $40,100 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Median | $24.96 | $51,920 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $31.75 | $66,040 | 7% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $37.84 | $78,710 | 27% above U.S. median |
How Columbia ranks
- 254th of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 232nd of 317 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 8 South Carolina metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for medical laboratory scientist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2010), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Columbia
- Overall prices in Columbia run 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 79.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $24.96 median hour buys what $26.65 buys at the national price level, 10% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Columbia Medical Laboratory Scientist pay report
Named employers near Columbia, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Columbia paycheck
- Per year: $44,928
- Per month: $3,744
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Columbia metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Columbia
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $115 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,323 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,199 |
Travel medical laboratory scientist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Columbia
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Columbia, 3 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of medical laboratory scientists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Sc Va Medical Center Columbia, SC | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Prisma Health Baptist Columbia, SC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Columbia, SC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown Columbia, SC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Prisma Health Richland Hospital Columbia, SC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| G Werber Bryan Psych Hosp Columbia, SC | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC | 62 mi | $29.02/hr | 75,798 |
| Charlotte, NC | 81 mi | $29.02/hr | 943,476 |
| Augusta, GA | 82 mi | $31.13/hr | 201,737 |
| Summerville, SC | 83 mi | $28.45/hr | 52,625 |
| Gastonia, NC | 85 mi | $29.02/hr | 85,535 |
| Goose Creek, SC | 89 mi | $28.45/hr | 50,352 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in South Carolina · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in South Carolina
Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what South Carolina requires for your role with the South Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
South Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Columbia
Columbia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Columbia, SC?
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $24.96 per hour, about $51,920 a year. The middle half earn between $19.28 and $31.75 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbia a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?
Columbia ranks 232nd of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 254th of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical laboratory scientists work in Columbia?
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Columbia, led by Columbia Sc Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a South Carolina license to work in Columbia as a medical laboratory scientist?
Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what South Carolina requires for your role with the South Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Columbia?
The federal per diem benchmark in Columbia is $115 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,323 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place medical laboratory scientists in Columbia?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Columbia and across South Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbia.
What do employers near Columbia pay medical laboratory scientists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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35+ Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in South Carolina, sent free by email
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Your Lab Scientist pay reportColumbia, SC · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Surgical Neuromonitoring Associates, Inc.Columbia, SC · 1 wage offer$55.29/ hr$55–$55
- AnMed HealthAnderson, SC · 1 wage offer$32.77/ hr$33–$33
- Conexus Medstaff LLCCharleston, SC · 2 wage offers$29.00/ hr$27–$31
- Management Health Systems, LLCOrangeburg, SC · 1 wage offer$28.20/ hr$28–$28
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
5 employer-reported wage offers for Lab Scientist in federal filings in South Carolina, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Lab Scientist roles
Open Lab Scientist roles near Columbia, SC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.