Back to South Carolina
Nursing jobs in Columbia, South Carolina 2026
Metro-level context for Columbia — South Carolina's statewide RN market, top hospitals hiring in the Columbia area, and how the EB-3 sponsorship landscape looks locally.
Metro population
0.8M
RN employed (est.)
7,900
State median salary
$87,670
State shortage
11,800
Top hospitals hiring in Columbia
- • Prisma Health
- • Lexington Medical Center
- • Providence Health
Why Columbia for international nurses
Columbia is one of South Carolina's largest RN markets with roughly 7,900 registered nurses employed. South Carolina has a 11,800 nurse shortage (12.4% of demand) — an ACTIVE EB-3 sponsorship market with agencies placing overseas-trained nurses in this metro. Median RN salary in the state is $87,670, translating to $73,353 in national purchasing power after cost of living adjustment.