Per diemPosted yesterday
RN Registered Nurse Home Health
Amedisys · Columbia, SC
$35.00–$40.00/ hour
New this week
Registered Nurse jobs in Columbia, SC
Pay for registered nurses in the Columbia area centers on $38.51 per hour, or about $80,100 a year. The lower quarter earns under $36.28 and the upper quarter over $46.22. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Columbia. That ranks 248th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 256th of 335 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Columbia.
- $38.51median pay per hour, Columbia
- $36–$46typical range per hour
- 9,800registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 3open roles with published pay
Open Registered Nurse roles in Columbia
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
RN Behavioral Health Psych Home Health
Amedisys · Columbia, SC
$66k–$78k/ year
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
120+ more Registered Nurse roles for you in Columbia, SC
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Inpatient Staff Registered Nurse
Veterans Health Administration · Columbia, SC
$80k–$145k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
More open Registered Nurse roles in Columbia
25 more open roles from employers in Columbia. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted today
Registered Nurse RN Hospice
PruittHealth · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
RN Home Health
PruittHealth · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
New this week
Per diemPosted today
PRN Registered Nurse RN Hospice
PruittHealth · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
New this week
Per diemPosted 6 days ago
Registered Nurse-PRN
PruittHealth · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Outpatient Registered Nurse - RN
Fresenius Medical Care · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Registered Nurse RN OASIS and ICD 10 Reviewer
PruittHealth · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 11 days ago
Registered Nurse
PruittHealth · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 11 days ago
RN-Case Mix Coordinator/ MDS Coordinator
PruittHealth · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 11 days ago
Wound nurse- RN
PruittHealth · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 14 days ago
Registered Nurse (RN) - Acute Care, Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU), FT, Nights
Prisma Health · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Registered Nurse (RN) - Patient Flow Coordinator, Patient Flow Operations, FT, Nights
Prisma Health · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Registered Nurse (RN) - Acute Care, Med Surg - Geriatrics, Oncology FT, Nights
Prisma Health · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
Get the Columbia Registered Nurse pay report
Named employers near Columbia, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring registered nurses near Columbia
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Amedisys | 2 | $36.06 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 1 | $54.12 |
Registered Nurse pay in Columbia, SC
The metro median is in line with the South Carolina statewide median of $38.41 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 9,800 registered nurses employed in the Columbia metro area, 25.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.19).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.20 | $64,900 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $36.28 | $75,460 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Median | $38.51 | $80,100 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $46.22 | $96,140 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $50.19 | $104,400 | 12% above U.S. median |
How Columbia ranks
- 248th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 256th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 8 South Carolina metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), 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 $38.51 median hour buys what $41.12 buys at the national price level, 9% 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$1,386
- Per year: $69,318
- Per month: $5,776
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 registered nurse 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 registered nurses.
| 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.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC | 62 mi | $40.76/hr | 75,798 |
| Charlotte, NC | 81 mi | $40.76/hr | 943,476 |
| Augusta, GA | 82 mi | $40.45/hr | 201,737 |
| Summerville, SC | 83 mi | $38.76/hr | 52,625 |
| Gastonia, NC | 85 mi | $40.76/hr | 85,535 |
| Goose Creek, SC | 89 mi | $38.76/hr | 50,352 |
Registered Nurse jobs in South Carolina · Registered Nurse 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.
Other healthcare roles in Columbia
Columbia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do registered nurses make in Columbia, SC?
Registered Nurses in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $38.51 per hour, about $80,100 a year. The middle half earn between $36.28 and $46.22 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbia a good place for registered nurses once cost of living is counted?
Columbia ranks 256th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 248th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring registered nurses in Columbia?
We list 3 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Columbia. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Columbia.
Do I need a South Carolina license to work in Columbia as a registered nurse?
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 registered nurses 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 registered nurses? 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.
Get your free pay report
390+ Registered Nurse 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 RN pay reportColumbia, SC · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- AmedisysColumbia, SC · 15 postings$37.02/ hr$31–$45
- Select MedicalFlorence, SC · 4 postings$46.59/ hr$40–$53
- Carnegie Health And Life Sciences Inc.Lancaster, SC · 6 wage offers$40.00/ hr$38–$42
- NuForce, LLCFlorence, SC · 3 wage offers$40.00/ hr$38–$40
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$31Median$37.38High$51
20 RN postings with published pay in South Carolina, 17 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 20 RN roles
- RN Registered Nurse Home HealthPermanent$70k–$85k/ year
- RN Registered Nurse Home HealthPer diem$35.00–$40.00/ hour
+ 18 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.