South Carolina Paycheck Calculator (2026)

How the South Carolina Paycheck Calculator: Take-Home Pay Works

This South carolina paycheck calculator estimates your take-home pay in South Carolina using the 2026 federal brackets, Social Security, Medicare and South Carolina's state income tax (graduated rates from 0% to 6%). South Carolina taxes wages at a top rate of 6% that starts above about $18,000 of taxable income, and the state has scheduled further rate reductions. Enter your salary, pay frequency, filing status and any pre-tax deduction to see net pay per paycheck and per year.

How South Carolina taxes wages

South Carolina taxes income at 0% on the first $3,640 of taxable income, 3% up to $18,230 and 6% above that, according to published 2026 tables, and it starts from federal taxable income. State law calls for reducing the top rate in future years if revenue conditions are met, so the current percentage is worth confirming. Because the 6% rate applies to most wages, the state tax on a $65,000 salary is roughly $2,800, or about 4.3% of gross pay.

The state standard deduction in published tables is $8,350 for single filers and $16,700 for joint filers, and each dependent qualifies for an exemption of about $4,930. South Carolina conforms to federal treatment of traditional 401(k) contributions, so those deferrals reduce state wages.

How this calculator estimates your South Carolina paycheck

The calculator starts with your gross pay, subtracts the pre-tax deduction you enter, and applies the 2026 federal standard deduction of $16,100 for single filers or $32,200 for married couples filing jointly. Federal income tax comes from the seven 2026 brackets, Social Security is 6.2% up to $184,500 and Medicare is 1.45% with a 0.9% surcharge above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (joint). For South Carolina it then applies graduated rates from 0% to 6% income tax after a state standard deduction of $8,350 for single filers and $16,700 for joint filers. Pre-tax deferrals reduce state taxable income in the estimate, as they do on most state returns. Results are estimates; your employer's payroll system and your tax return are final. See the US paycheck guide for the full method.

What jobs pay in South Carolina

About 2,305,080 people worked in South Carolina in May 2025. The median annual wage across all of them was $46,490 ($22.35 an hour), 9% below the national median of $50,980. The average wage was higher, at $59,280, because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up; the median is the better guide to a typical paycheck.

After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the South Carolina taxes in this calculator, a single worker on that $46,490 median takes home about $37,902 a year, or $3,159 a month and $1,457.79 every two weeks.

Wage figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Carolina. Take-home pay: this page's 2026 calculator, single filer, no pre-tax deductions, default settings.

The biggest jobs in South Carolina and what they take home

The largest occupations in South Carolina by number of workers are below. Each row shows the median salary and what a single filer keeps after 2026 taxes in South Carolina.

Most of the largest occupations sit near or below the middle of the pay range: 10 of these 15 pay less than the $46,490 median for all workers, which is why the overall median is lower than many people expect.

Worked example: $65,000 salary in South Carolina, paid every two weeks

A single South Carolina employee earning $65,000, paid every two weeks and contributing $100 per paycheck to a traditional 401(k), has gross pay of $2,500.00 per paycheck. After the $2,600 deferral and the $16,100 federal standard deduction, taxable income is $46,300 and federal income tax is about $5,308. Social Security is $4,030 and Medicare is $943. South Carolina state income tax is about $2,587, an effective state rate of 3.98% of gross pay.

Net pay is about $49,533 a year, or $1,905.10 per paycheck, which is 76.2% of gross pay. Change any input in the calculator above to test your own situation.

Married couple example: $110,000 combined pay

A married couple filing jointly in South Carolina with $110,000 of combined wages and 6% ($6,600) going to traditional retirement plans has federal taxable income of $71,200 and pays about $8,048 in federal income tax and $8,415 in FICA. South Carolina income tax comes to roughly $4,546. Estimated take-home pay is about $82,391 a year, or $3,168.89 per biweekly paycheck.

Well-paid occupations in South Carolina

Among occupations with at least 3,500 workers in South Carolina, these have the highest median pay. Federal tax takes a larger share at these salaries, so compare the take-home column rather than the salary when weighing offers.

Jobs that are unusually common in South Carolina

A location quotient compares how common a job is locally with its share nationwide: 2.0 means twice as concentrated as the U.S. overall. These occupations stand out in South Carolina and say a lot about which industries hire there.

Is pay higher in South Carolina? Popular jobs compared

Median annual wages for well-known jobs in South Carolina and the United States. Pay usually tracks living costs, so a higher wage does not always mean more money left over.

Starting wages in South Carolina

The lowest-paid 10% of workers in South Carolina earn under $13.01 an hour. Common hourly jobs pay the median rates below; a 40-hour week at that rate takes home the amount shown after 2026 taxes. Check the current South Carolina minimum wage on the U.S. Department of Labor state minimum wage page, since several states raise it each year.

Which career fields pay most in South Carolina

BLS groups every job into broad career fields. Here is how many people work in each across South Carolina, the field's median salary and what that salary takes home in South Carolina. Management pays the most at a median of $110,640; food preparation and serving related pays the least at $28,640.

Entry-level to top pay for South Carolina jobs

The median hides a wide range. The lowest-paid 10% in a job are often new to it, while the top 10% are usually experienced, specialized or in management. The ranges below for common South Carolina jobs show how much room there is to grow, with take-home pay at each level.

South Carolina take-home pay at three salaries

These estimates assume a single filer, no pre-tax deductions and the 2026 federal standard deduction.

• $40,000: federal income tax about $2,620, FICA $3,060, South Carolina income tax about $1,243, leaving roughly $33,077 a year ($1,272.20 per biweekly paycheck).
• $65,000: federal income tax about $5,620, FICA $4,973, South Carolina income tax about $2,743, leaving roughly $51,665 a year ($1,987.10 per biweekly paycheck).
• $100,000: federal income tax about $13,170, FICA $7,650, South Carolina income tax about $4,843, leaving roughly $74,337 a year ($2,859.12 per biweekly paycheck).

Use the calculator to add retirement deferrals, change your filing status or switch pay frequency. For comparisons, see the national paycheck calculator and the paycheck calculators by state hub.

Where the tax goes on a $65,000 South Carolina paycheck

Of about $13,335 in total annual taxes for a single filer earning $65,000 with no pre-tax deductions, federal income tax is about 42%, Social Security and Medicare together are about 37%, South Carolina income tax is about 21%. Federal taxes dominate almost everywhere, which is why federal planning tools such as the federal income tax calculator and a correctly completed W-4 matter as much as the state rate.

South Carolina local taxes and payroll deductions

South Carolina has no local income tax on wages and no state disability or paid family leave deduction, so a stub shows federal withholding, Social Security, Medicare and South Carolina withholding. Some cities charge business license taxes to employers, but those are not deducted from employee pay. Employees claim allowances on Form SC W-4, which is separate from the federal W-4 and is worth completing when you move from another state.

Because South Carolina uses a two-step bracket with a high 6% top rate, employer withholding tables may withhold slightly more than your actual liability for low earners, which produces refunds. Check your final stub totals against your W-2 and adjust allowances if refunds are large.

Retirement income, credits and special South Carolina rules

South Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits and offers a retirement income deduction of up to $3,000 for taxpayers under 65 and up to $10,000 for taxpayers 65 and older, with an additional deduction for military retirement and other targeted relief. There is also an age deduction, and the state offers credits for child care and tuition. Long-term capital gains receive a 44% deduction, which lowers the effective rate on investment income.

Bonuses and supplemental wages are subject to state tax with flat-rate withholding. South Carolina has no estate tax and no inheritance tax.

Living and working in South Carolina: how the tax burden compares

South Carolina's state sales tax is 6%, and counties add 1% or more for local option taxes, so combined rates commonly reach 7% to 9%. Property taxes are notably low on primary residences because of a 4% assessment ratio, but second homes and rental property are taxed at higher rates. Charleston, Greenville and Columbia have manufacturing, port, aerospace and tourism jobs, and coastal housing costs are rising.

Compare South Carolina with North Carolina, Georgia and zero-tax Tennessee. South Carolina's 6% top rate is higher than North Carolina's flat 3.99%, so a move across the border can change take-home pay by more than $1,000 a year at typical salaries.

South Carolina income tax at a glance

• State income tax: graduated, from 0% to 6%
• State standard deduction: $8,350 single, $16,700 joint
• State pre-tax retirement treatment: follows the federal exclusion
• Withholding form: Form SC W-4
• Agency: the South Carolina Department of Revenue

These are the assumptions built into the calculator above. Rates, exemptions and payroll premiums change from year to year, so verify each item with the agency listed before making a large financial decision.

What a $100 pre-tax contribution really costs in South Carolina

Contributing $100 per paycheck to a traditional 401(k) or HSA reduces your take-home pay by less than $100 because it lowers taxable income. In the $65,000 single-filer example for South Carolina, the annual contribution of $2,600 cuts net pay by only about $2,132, or $82.00 per biweekly paycheck, so the true cost of each $100 contribution is roughly $82.00. The saving comes from both federal and South Carolina income tax, though not from Social Security or Medicare. Use the 401(k) calculator to see how those contributions grow.

South Carolina paycheck rules: pay frequency, minimum wage and final pay

South Carolina follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour. The Payment of Wages Act requires employers to notify employees of their pay schedule and deductions, and final wages are due within 48 hours of separation or on the next regular payday, whichever comes first. Employers may not withhold wages without notice, and overtime follows federal rules for eligible employees. Workers can file wage complaints with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Common mistakes with South Carolina paychecks

• Assuming the top rate is reduced. The 6% rate applies to most wages until scheduled reductions take effect.
• Skipping the SC W-4. Allowances affect state withholding.
• Budgeting from gross pay. Plan with net pay per paycheck, about $1,905.10 in the $65,000 example.
• Forgetting FICA. Social Security and Medicare add 7.65% for most employees. See what is FICA tax.
• Not updating withholding. Review your W-4 and Form SC W-4 after a move, marriage or new job, using the W-4 withholding calculator.

Key takeaways

• South Carolina taxes wages with graduated rates from 0% to 6%.
• Pre-tax retirement deferrals lower federal income tax but not FICA.
• A single worker earning $65,000 keeps about 76% of gross pay in the standard example.
• Compare states using total cost of living, not only income tax.
• Confirm current figures with the South Carolina Department of Revenue and IRS.gov.

What a typical South Carolina paycheck covers

On the $46,490 median, the common guideline of spending no more than 30% of gross pay on housing allows rent of about $1,162 a month. Using the 50/30/20 rule on the $3,159 monthly take-home pay, that is about $1,579 for needs such as rent, food and transport, $948 for wants and $632 for savings and debt payments.

If rents run above $1,162 for the home you want, the usual fixes are a roommate, a longer commute or a second income in the household; the rent affordability calculator tests your own numbers.