PermanentPosted yesterday
Staff Pharmacist Full Time
CVS Health · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
New this week
Pharmacist jobs in Columbia, SC
Pharmacists in the Columbia area earn a median of $64.77 per hour, about $134,730 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $61.16 and $72.95. That ranks 206th of 383 U.S. metro areas for pharmacist pay, and 214th of 340 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Columbia. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Columbia.
- $64.77median pay per hour, Columbia
- $61–$73typical range per hour
- 1,030pharmacists employed in the metro area
- 94cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Pharmacist roles in Columbia
2 more open roles from employers in Columbia. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Per diemPosted 28 days ago
Pharmacist, PRN Days
Prisma Health · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
Pharmacist pay in Columbia, SC
The metro median is 1% below the South Carolina statewide median of $65.34 per hour. Nationally the median is $66.10 per hour. BLS counts about 1,030 pharmacists employed in the Columbia metro area, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.26).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $36.74 | $76,420 | 44% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $61.16 | $127,210 | 7% below U.S. median |
| Median | $64.77 | $134,730 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $72.95 | $151,740 | 10% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $78.60 | $163,490 | 19% above U.S. median |
How Columbia ranks
- 206th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 214th of 340 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th of 8 South Carolina metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Pharmacists (SOC 29-1051), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Get the Columbia Pharmacist pay report
Named employers near Columbia, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat 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 $64.77 median hour buys what $69.15 buys at the national price level, 5% above 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.
Estimate your Columbia paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,332
- Per year: $116,586
- Per month: $9,715
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 pharmacist 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 pharmacists.
| 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.
Pharmacist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC | 62 mi | $67.28/hr | 75,798 |
| Charlotte, NC | 81 mi | $67.28/hr | 943,476 |
| Augusta, GA | 82 mi | $62.94/hr | 201,737 |
| Summerville, SC | 83 mi | $67.50/hr | 52,625 |
| Gastonia, NC | 85 mi | $67.28/hr | 85,535 |
| Goose Creek, SC | 89 mi | $67.50/hr | 50,352 |
Pharmacist jobs in South Carolina · Pharmacist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in South Carolina
PharmD from an accredited program. 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 pharmacists make in Columbia, SC?
Pharmacists in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $64.77 per hour, about $134,730 a year. The middle half earn between $61.16 and $72.95 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbia a good place for pharmacists once cost of living is counted?
Columbia ranks 214th of 340 metro areas for pharmacist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 206th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.
Where do pharmacists 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 pharmacist?
PharmD from an accredited program. 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 pharmacists 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.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Columbia pay pharmacists? 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.
Get your free pay report
35+ Pharmacist roles in South Carolina, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Pharmacist pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your South Carolina list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 3 postings$99.69/ hr$78–$109
- Kaweah Delta Health Care DistrictVisalia, CA · 3 postings$98.56/ hr$71–$118
- Sharp HealthcareLa Mesa, CA · 6 postings$93.07/ hr$80–$114
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 13 postings$92.12/ hr$75–$114
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your South Carolina list
2What they are offering now
Low$54Median$72.98High$95
332 Pharmacist postings with published pay in the US, 282 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Pharmacist roles
Open Pharmacist roles near Columbia, SC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.