This Richland County South Carolina job guide highlights credible employment pathways across local government, healthcare, education, public safety, and state and local workforce resources serving Columbia and communities throughout the county.
Job-volume badges: A “10+ jobs” badge means that ten or more openings were observed during the most recent review. These badges can help identify employers that may be more likely to have current opportunities, but they do not guarantee that the same number of jobs is still available.
This Richland County South Carolina job guide highlights credible employment pathways across local government, healthcare, education, public safety, and state and local workforce resources serving Columbia and communities throughout the county.
Job-volume badges: A “10+ jobs” badge means that ten or more openings were observed during the most recent review. These badges can help identify employers that may be more likely to have current opportunities, but they do not guarantee that the same number of jobs is still available.
Richland County Government is a major public-sector employer with career opportunities across numerous departments and public services. Employment fields include administration, finance, information technology, planning and development, engineering, public works, libraries, courts, animal services, facilities, emergency services, EMS, detention, law enforcement, and other professional, technical, skilled, and support occupations.
The City of Columbia is a major municipal employer with career opportunities across a wide range of departments. Positions include administration, finance, information technology, engineering, planning, utilities, public works, solid waste, parks and recreation, customer service, facilities, police, fire, emergency communications, code enforcement, and other professional, skilled, technical, and support occupations.
The City of Forest Acres maintains an active employment page for municipal career opportunities. and periodic openings include Police Officer, Dispatcher, Code Enforcement Officer, public works and sanitation positions, CDL drivers, laborers, administration, and other city operations. The Police Department continually accepts applications for patrol officers and dispatchers.
The Town of Blythewood maintains an official Human Resources pathway for its municipal workforce. Career areas include administration, planning and development, public works, finance, parks, communications, and other services supporting the growing Richland County community.
The Town of Irmo extends into both Richland and Lexington counties and maintains an official employment page for municipal opportunities. Positions may be available in administration, public works, municipal court, law enforcement, and other town operations. The Irmo Police Department accepts applications for Police Officer candidates.
Fort Jackson is a major federal government employer in the Columbia and Richland County area with thousands of civilian employees supporting the U.S. Army training mission. Department of the Army civilian career opportunities span administration, information technology, logistics, engineering, maintenance, healthcare, education and training, public safety, human resources, finance, recreation, skilled trades, and other professional and support occupations.
MUSC Health operates a substantial healthcare network in Columbia that includes Columbia Medical Center Downtown, Columbia Medical Center Northeast, primary care and specialty practices, emergency services, rehabilitation, imaging, laboratory, and other clinical operations. Formerly part of Providence Health, the Columbia facilities now recruit extensively for nursing, physicians, advanced practice providers, laboratory, imaging, pharmacy, rehabilitation, patient care, administration, support services, and other healthcare careers.
Prisma Health is a major healthcare employer in Richland County with Columbia facilities including Richland Hospital, Baptist Hospital, Baptist Parkridge Hospital, Children's Hospital, Heart Hospital, and other specialty and outpatient locations. Formerly known as Palmetto Health, the system recruits for nursing, physicians, allied health, laboratory, imaging, pharmacy, behavioral health, rehabilitation, information technology, administration, facilities, patient support, and many other healthcare occupations.
The Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center in Columbia is the principal hospital of the Columbia VA Health Care System and provides primary, specialty, surgical, mental health, rehabilitation, pharmacy, diagnostic, and other services for veterans. Federal career opportunities include nursing, physicians, pharmacy, social work, psychology, rehabilitation, laboratory, imaging, administration, facilities, information technology, police, and other clinical and support occupations.
Moncrief Army Health Clinic at Fort Jackson provides military healthcare services including primary care, behavioral health, pharmacy, laboratory, preventive medicine, occupational health, case management, and specialty services. Civilian career opportunities may include nurses, physicians, pharmacists, medical assistants, laboratory professionals, therapists, administrative personnel, public health staff, and other healthcare support occupations.
Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Columbia is an inpatient rehabilitation hospital on Colonial Drive providing intensive rehabilitation for patients recovering from stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, orthopedic conditions, and other illnesses or injuries. Career opportunities include registered nurses, nursing assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, rehabilitation technicians, case managers, pharmacists, dietitians, administrative staff, and hospital support positions.
South Carolina BHDD's Office of Mental Health operates major Columbia-area psychiatric facilities and community mental-health services. Richland County careers span psychiatry, nursing, counseling, psychology, social work, pharmacy, behavioral-health support, administration, facilities, and other clinical or human-services functions.
Richland School District One is a major public education employer serving more than 21,000 students in Columbia and surrounding Richland County communities. The district recruits elementary, middle, and high school teachers along with special education professionals, counselors, administrators, instructional assistants, transportation employees, custodians, food service workers, technology staff, nurses, security personnel, coaches, substitutes, and other education support employees.
Richland School District Two is one of the largest public school systems in the Midlands and employs teachers, administrators, and support staff throughout northeastern Richland County. Career opportunities include classroom teaching, special education, counseling, instructional support, technology, transportation, maintenance, food service, athletics, nursing, administration, security, and other school-based and district positions.
The University of South Carolina is a major public research university and one of the largest employers in the Columbia and Richland County area. Career opportunities include faculty, research, healthcare, information technology, libraries, administration, student services, finance, athletics, facilities and skilled trades, public safety, communications, engineering, laboratory, and numerous other professional and support occupations.
Midlands Technical College is a public two-year college serving Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties with multiple campuses and learning centers in the Columbia region. Employment opportunities include full-time and adjunct faculty, workforce training instructors, student services, administration, information technology, finance, public safety, facilities, skilled trades, and other academic and support positions.
Benedict College is a private historically Black college located in Columbia with undergraduate and graduate programs across business, education, engineering, computer science, communications, sciences, and other disciplines. Career opportunities include faculty, administration, admissions, financial aid, information technology, athletics, facilities, finance, communications, research, workforce development, and other professional and support positions.
Allen University is a private historically Black university located in Columbia and maintains an active faculty and staff recruitment program. Career opportunities include professors and instructors, sponsored programs, administration, research support, library services, finance, campus police, facilities, student services, and other professional and support positions.
Columbia College is a private college in Columbia offering undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. The college recruits faculty and adjunct instructors along with professionals in administration, admissions, student services, finance, information technology, athletics, advancement, facilities, academic support, and other campus operations.
Columbia International University is a private university in Columbia offering undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online programs. The university maintains an active employment page with opportunities for faculty, admissions, student development, athletics, academic administration, information technology, library services, campus security, facilities, food service, and other professional and support positions.
South University operates a Columbia campus offering programs in healthcare, business, criminal justice, information technology, and other professional fields. Career opportunities may include faculty and adjunct instructors, academic administration, admissions, financial aid, student services, campus operations, facilities, and other professional and support positions.
The Richland County Sheriff's Department recruits sworn and civilian personnel for one of the region's largest law enforcement agencies. Career opportunities include Deputy Sheriff, investigations, patrol, school resource officers, K-9, marine patrol, special response, forensics, communications, victim services, administration, and numerous specialized and support assignments.
Richland County operates the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia and maintains a dedicated recruitment program for correctional careers. Opportunities include Detention Officer positions along with supervisory, administrative, healthcare, maintenance, food service, and other correctional support roles. Paid training, benefits, and recruitment incentives are available for qualified Detention Officer candidates.
Richland County Emergency Medical Services provides emergency medical response throughout the county and recruits EMTs, Advanced EMTs, Paramedics, supervisors, and other emergency medical personnel. Richland County also operates a paid EMT Academy for qualified candidates seeking to enter the emergency medical profession.
The Columbia Police Department actively recruits Police Officer and Police Officer Candidate applicants for municipal law enforcement careers. Career paths include patrol, investigations, K-9, community services, traffic enforcement, school resource assignments, crime analysis, evidence, administration, and other sworn and civilian specialties.
The Columbia-Richland Fire Department provides professional fire and emergency response services throughout the City of Columbia and Richland County. Career opportunities include certified and non-certified Firefighters along with fire prevention, inspection, training, logistics, administration, and other emergency services positions.
Columbia-Richland 911 Communications serves as the emergency communications center for the City of Columbia and Richland County. Career opportunities include Call Takers, Public Safety Telecommunicators, Dispatchers, supervisors, trainers, technical personnel, and other emergency communications staff. The center provides structured classroom and on-the-job training for new telecommunicators.
The Forest Acres Police Department provides municipal law enforcement and emergency communications services for the City of Forest Acres. The department continually accepts applications for Patrol Officers and Dispatchers, including candidates seeking to begin a law enforcement career and experienced South Carolina certified officers.
The University of South Carolina Division of Law Enforcement and Safety operates a professional police and public safety organization serving the Columbia campus. Career opportunities include sworn Law Enforcement Officers, Security Operations Center personnel and Police Dispatchers, security professionals, emergency management personnel, and other campus safety positions.
The South Carolina Department of Corrections operates several major correctional facilities in Richland County, including Broad River Correctional Institution, Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center, Goodman Correctional Institution, and Camille Griffin Graham Correctional Institution. Career opportunities include Correctional Officers, supervisors, nurses and healthcare professionals, mental health staff, food service, maintenance, administration, rehabilitation programs, and other correctional occupations.
Traffic enforcement and roadway safety are central to South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper careers. The agency's recruiting site gives Richland County job seekers a clear look at trooper duties, applicant qualifications, testing and selection, academy training, salary, benefits, and application procedures.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division personnel support complex investigations and statewide criminal-justice services. Richland County applicants can pursue special-agent work or civilian careers in the forensic laboratory, CJIS, the Fusion Center, information technology, intelligence, analytical functions, and administrative or operational support.
SC Works Midlands provides free employment and career services to job seekers throughout Richland County and the surrounding Midlands region. The Columbia Center offers job-search assistance, career guidance, workforce training information, WIOA services, resource-room access, workshops, hiring events, employer connections, and other re-employment services.
SC Works Online Services gives Richland County residents a statewide employment search backed by South Carolina's largest workforce-development database. Users can explore thousands of positions while creating résumés, researching careers and employers, finding training, and organizing searches through built-in tools.
South Carolina State Government Careers is a broad public-sector employment resource for Richland County job seekers. More than 70 agencies recruit through the system for work involving public safety, healthcare, information technology, engineering, human services, finance, transportation, administration, and skilled trades.
Please submit feedback or report link errors by emailing info@worklooker.com. Sources are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis, and your feedback helps improve this directory.
