Private Detectives and Investigators salary in Columbia, SC
The median private detectives and investigators in Columbia, SC earns $48,000 a year, 6% below the US median. After tax that is roughly $3,156 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $36,240
- 25th percentile
- $38,660
- Median percentile
- $48,000
- 75th percentile
- $59,620
- 90th percentile
- $80,920
Based on 100 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.
What you keep
$37,868 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $48,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,580 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,672 |
| South Carolina income tax (approx.) | −$2,880 |
| Monthly take-home | $3,156 |
| Every two weeks | $1,456 |
Does it go far here?
$51,248Median pay in Columbia, SC is worth this at average US prices (local price level 93.7 vs 100).
38%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,193 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $374,300 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $141,570 |
| Marketing Managers | $136,930 |
| Pharmacists | $133,850 |
| Sales Managers | $128,650 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $128,050 |
| Financial Managers | $124,790 |
| Software Developers | $123,380 |
All private detectives and investigators salaries · Take-home pay in South Carolina