PermanentPosted 14 days ago
Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant - Nocturnal Cardiac ICU - Columbia
Prisma Health · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
Physician Assistant jobs in Columbia, SC
The median physician assistant pay in the Columbia area is $57.51 per hour ($119,620 a year), with the typical range running from $49.73 to $65.15. That ranks 276th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 236th of 301 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.
- $57.51median pay per hour, Columbia
- $50–$65typical range per hour
- 410physician assistants employed in the metro area
- 94cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Physician Assistant roles in Columbia
3 more open roles from employers in Columbia. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Physician Assistant - Cardiothoracic Surgery - Columbia
Prisma Health · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 28 days ago
Nurse Practitioner / Physician Assistant - Pediatric Surgery - Columbia
Prisma Health · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
Physician Assistant pay in Columbia, SC
The metro median is in line with the South Carolina statewide median of $57.31 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 410 physician assistants employed in the Columbia metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.05).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.05 | $47,940 | 64% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $49.73 | $103,440 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Median | $57.51 | $119,620 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $65.15 | $135,510 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $65.68 | $136,610 | 3% above U.S. median |
How Columbia ranks
- 276th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 236th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 7 South Carolina metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Get the Columbia Physician Assistant 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 $57.51 median hour buys what $61.40 buys at the national price level, 4% 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.
Estimate your Columbia paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,070
- Per year: $103,518
- Per month: $8,626
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 physician assistant 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 Physician Assistant roles in South Carolina
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Columbia as they open.
PermanentPosted 20 days ago
Physician Assistant (Orthopedic)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Beaufort, SC
$90k–$116k/ year
For youUpdated weekly
35+ more Physician Assistant roles for you in South Carolina
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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 physician assistants.
| 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.
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.
Physician Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC | 62 mi | $63.52/hr | 75,798 |
| Charlotte, NC | 81 mi | $63.52/hr | 943,476 |
| Augusta, GA | 82 mi | $50.55/hr | 201,737 |
| Summerville, SC | 83 mi | $61.00/hr | 52,625 |
| Gastonia, NC | 85 mi | $63.52/hr | 85,535 |
| Goose Creek, SC | 89 mi | $61.00/hr | 50,352 |
Physician Assistant jobs in South Carolina · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in South Carolina
Master’s degree from an accredited PA 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 physician assistants make in Columbia, SC?
Physician Assistants in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $57.51 per hour, about $119,620 a year. The middle half earn between $49.73 and $65.15 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbia a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?
Columbia ranks 236th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 276th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.
Where do physician assistants 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 physician assistant?
Master’s degree from an accredited PA 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.
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 physician assistants 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 physician assistants? 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 hospitals
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+ Physician Assistant 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 PA pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your South Carolina list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 4 postings$104.30/ hr$94–$115
- Valley Children's HealthcareMadera, CA · 3 postings$103.69/ hr$75–$123
- MarinHealthGreenbrae, CA · 4 postings$100.70/ hr$86–$108
- Sharp HealthCareLa Mesa, CA · 3 postings$92.12/ hr$80–$104
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your South Carolina list
2What they are offering now
Low$49Median$70.67High$89
426 PA postings with published pay in the US, 356 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 PA roles
- Physician Assistant (Orthopedic)Permanent$90k–$116k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.