SC · Columbia · Updated October 15, 2026

Nurse Practitioner jobs in Columbia, SC

Pay for nurse practitioners in the Columbia area centers on $53.87 per hour, or about $112,050 a year. The lower quarter earns under $51.25 and the upper quarter over $63.58. That ranks 330th of 372 U.S. metro areas for nurse practitioner pay, and 310th of 336 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.

Nurse Practitioner pay in Columbia, SC

The metro median is 4% below the South Carolina statewide median of $55.88 per hour. Nationally the median is $62.12 per hour. BLS counts about 960 nurse practitioners employed in the Columbia metro area, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.25).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$36.38$75,67041% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$51.25$106,60017% below U.S. median
Median$53.87$112,05013% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$63.58$132,2502% above U.S. median
Top 10%$65.74$136,7406% above U.S. median

How Columbia ranks

  • 330th of 372 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 310th of 336 after adjusting for local prices
  • 6th of 8 South Carolina metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nurse Practitioners (SOC 29-1171), 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 $53.87 median hour buys what $57.52 buys at the national price level, 7% 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.

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Estimate your Columbia paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,939
  • Per year: $96,966
  • Per month: $8,080

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

ItemFederal 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 nurse practitioner 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).

Open Nurse Practitioner roles in South Carolina

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Columbia as they open.

All Nurse Practitioner jobs in South Carolina

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 nurse practitioners.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Columbia Sc Va Medical Center
Columbia, SC
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Prisma Health Baptist
Columbia, SC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge
Columbia, SC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
Columbia, SC
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Prisma Health Richland Hospital
Columbia, SC
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
G Werber Bryan Psych Hosp
Columbia, SC
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Richland County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Richland County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 12 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Nurse Practitioner pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Rock Hill, SC62 mi$62.81/hr75,798
Charlotte, NC81 mi$62.81/hr943,476
Augusta, GA82 mi$53.08/hr201,737
Summerville, SC83 mi$59.18/hr52,625
Gastonia, NC85 mi$62.81/hr85,535
Goose Creek, SC89 mi$59.18/hr50,352

Nurse Practitioner jobs in South Carolina · Nurse Practitioner jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in South Carolina

South Carolina is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a South Carolina license by endorsement.

South Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

South Carolina state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Columbia

Columbia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do nurse practitioners make in Columbia, SC?

Nurse Practitioners in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $53.87 per hour, about $112,050 a year. The middle half earn between $51.25 and $63.58 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Columbia a good place for nurse practitioners once cost of living is counted?

Columbia ranks 310th of 336 metro areas for nurse practitioner pay after adjusting for local prices, and 330th of 372 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.

Where do nurse practitioners 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 nurse practitioner?

South Carolina is in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN or LPN/LVN with a multistate license from another compact state can work here without a new license. Nurses whose home state is not in the compact apply for a South Carolina license by endorsement. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Columbia in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Richland County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

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 nurse practitioners 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.

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What do employers near Columbia pay nurse practitioners? Get the report.

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Pay report · NP near Columbia, SC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your NP pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your South Carolina list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Apogee Medical Group, South Carolina, PCColumbia, SC · 1 wage offer$86.12/ hr$86–$86
  • MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 4 postings$96.91/ hr$86–$108
  • Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 6 postings$92.12/ hr$80–$104
  • Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 3 postings$92.12/ hr$80–$104

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your South Carolina list

2What they are offering now

Low$52Median$67.39High$89

424 NP postings with published pay in the US, 363 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 1 NP roles

  1. Nurse Practitioner (Cardiology)Permanent
    $109k–$187k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Myrtle Beach, SC · posted 2 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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