Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Columbia, SC

Based on 37 certified H-1B filings in the Columbia, SC metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Elgin, Lexington.

Median salary$97,610
Middle 50%$89.8k–$121.9k
vs. national median−15%comparison median $114,795
Filings37FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $68,874 and $291,200.
PercentileSalary
10th$70,325
25th$89,773
50th (median)$97,610
75th$121,860
90th$140,360

Salary by year

Median salary

$70k $95k $120k FY2020: median $88,695 (53 filings) FY2021: median $78,000 (33 filings) FY2022: median $92,851 (37 filings) FY2023: median $98,786 (20 filings) FY2024: median $106,057 (44 filings) FY2025: median $97,610 (24 filings) FY2026: median $90,709 (13 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 53 filings FY20 FY2021: 33 filings FY21 FY2022: 37 filings FY22 FY2023: 20 filings FY23 FY2024: 44 filings FY24 FY2025: 24 filings FY25 FY2026: 13 filings FY26 53
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$88,695$73,216$105,00053
FY2021$78,000$75,442$95,00033
FY2022$92,851$75,442$110,28237
FY2023$98,786$83,921$114,55020
FY2024$106,057$85,304$127,49844
FY2025$97,610$80,344$122,66024
FY2026$90,709$90,709$116,25113

Cost of living

Columbia's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $97,610 is worth about $104,200 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Columbia = 93.7).

Compared with all workers here

All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Columbia, SC area earned a median of $91,920 in May 2025 (770 employed). The H-1B median here is $97,610, 6% higher.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Top employers filing

EmployerMedianFilings
Duck Creek Technologies$128,19011
HCLTechtoo few2
CALTEK Solutionstoo few2
GAVS Technologiestoo few2
Inntec Consultingtoo few2
Neurealmtoo few2
Pajosys Technologiestoo few2
Programsofttoo few2
Smac Appstoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I – 0
Mid-level · Level II $70,400 13
Senior · Level III $97,610 15
Expert · Level IV too few 8

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$70,325$70,40013
Senior · Level III$92,019$97,61015

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.