South Carolina Paycheck Calculator 2026
See what lands in your bank account each payday. South Carolina's new 2026 tax system charges 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% above, with a new state deduction that disappears at higher incomes.
| Line | This paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$191.55 | -$4,980 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$150.04 | -$3,901 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$35.09 | -$912 |
| South Carolina income tax | -$63.11 | -$1,641 |
| 401(k) | -$125.00 | -$3,250 |
| Health insurance | -$80.00 | -$2,080 |
| Take-home pay | $1,855.21 | $48,235 |
What your numbers mean
per paycheck, or $1,641 a year (2.5% of your gross pay).
to each paycheck. You keep about 75¢ of every extra dollar at this pay.
You put $125.00 into your 401(k) each paycheck, but your take-home only drops by $103.49. The difference is income tax you don't pay today.
Take-home pay at South Carolina pay levels
Based on South Carolina's minimum wage and its median and average wages (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). Single filer, paid every two weeks, no 401(k) or health deductions.
| Salary | Every 2 weeks | Per month | Per year | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,080 Minimum wage, full time | $535.57 | $1,160.40 | $13,925 | 7.7% |
| $23,200 Half the median | $790.46 | $1,712.67 | $20,552 | 11.4% |
| $46,490 Median wage | $1,491.07 | $3,230.66 | $38,768 | 16.6% |
| $59,280 Average wage | $1,853.71 | $4,016.38 | $48,197 | 18.7% |
| $69,700 1.5× the median | $2,136.85 | $4,629.84 | $55,558 | 20.3% |
| $93,000 2× the median | $2,707.87 | $5,867.05 | $70,405 | 24.3% |
| $139,500 3× the median | $3,858.17 | $8,359.36 | $100,312 | 28.1% |
Hourly pay after taxes in South Carolina
Single filer working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. South Carolina's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
| Hourly rate | Weekly take-home | Yearly gross | Yearly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| $7.25 Minimum wage | $267.78 | $15,080 | $13,925 |
| $16.76 75% of the median | $572.99 | $34,861 | $29,795 |
| $22.35 Median wage | $745.51 | $46,488 | $38,766 |
| $28.50 Average wage | $926.86 | $59,280 | $48,197 |
| $33.53 1.5× the median | $1,068.94 | $69,742 | $55,585 |
| $44.70 2× the median | $1,353.64 | $92,976 | $70,389 |
South Carolina vs nearby states: take-home on $46,490
On a $46,490 (the South Carolina median) salary, a single filer keeps about $767 a year more in Tennessee than in South Carolina. Single filer, paid every two weeks, no 401(k) or health deductions.
| State | Every 2 weeks | Per year | vs South Carolina |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $1,491.07 | $38,768 | — |
| Georgia | $1,460.13 | $37,963 | −$805 |
| North Carolina | $1,468.79 | $38,188 | −$579 |
| Tennessee | $1,520.57 | $39,535 | +$767 |
More South Carolina pay calculators
Wages in South Carolina
| Median wage, all jobs | $22.35 an hour · $46,490 a year |
| Average (mean) wage | $59,280 a year |
| Take-home at the median wage | $38,768 a year · $1,491.07 every 2 weeks |
| Median household income (2024) | $72,350 |
| Jobs | 2,305,080 |
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024. Take-home assumes a single filer with no pre-tax deductions.
South Carolina income tax brackets 2026
| Rate | Taxable income (all filing statuses) |
|---|---|
| 1.99% | $0 – $30,000 |
| 5.21% | Over $30,000 |
- Standard deduction: $15,000 single, $30,000 married filing jointly, $22,500 head of household (reduced at higher incomes).
Paychecks in South Carolina: what to know
- A 2026 law, backdated to January 1, cut the top rate from 6% to 5.21% and added a 1.99% rate on the first $30,000.
- South Carolina no longer uses the federal standard deduction. Its new deduction ($15,000 single, $22,500 head of household, $30,000 married) phases out completely at $95,000, $142,500 and $190,000 of income.
- Because the state now starts from federal adjusted gross income, the federal tips and overtime deductions do not reduce South Carolina tax.
- The 5.21% rate is scheduled to keep falling from 2027 when state revenue grows enough.
- South Carolina has no state minimum wage law, so the federal $7.25 an hour applies.
- Sales tax: 6% state sales tax plus up to about 3% local.
How this calculator works
- Gross pay. Your salary, or hourly rate × hours × 52 weeks plus overtime at 1.5×, divided by your number of paychecks.
- Pre-tax deductions. 401(k) contributions lower your income tax. Health premiums lower income tax and Social Security/Medicare.
- Federal income tax. Yearly taxable pay minus the 2026 standard deduction, run through the 2026 IRS brackets.
- Social Security and Medicare. 6.2% up to $184,500, plus 1.45% Medicare (2.35% above $200,000).
- South Carolina. Yes. South Carolina rewrote its income tax for 2026: 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% above, after a new deduction of $15,000 for single filers that phases out between $40,000 and $95,000 of income.
Full details and federal sources are on the methodology page.
South Carolina sources
Common questions
Does South Carolina have a state income tax?
Yes. South Carolina rewrote its income tax for 2026: 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% above, after a new deduction of $15,000 for single filers that phases out between $40,000 and $95,000 of income.
What is the South Carolina income tax rate for 2026?
South Carolina has graduated income tax rates from 1.99% to 5.21% in 2026. The full 2026 brackets are listed on this page.
How much is the median South Carolina salary after taxes?
The median wage in South Carolina is $46,490 a year. A single filer with no 401(k) or health deductions takes home about $38,768 of it, or $1,491.07 every two weeks, which is 83% of gross pay.
What does a full-time minimum wage job in South Carolina take home?
At $7.25 an hour and 40 hours a week, gross pay is $15,080 a year. A single filer takes home about $13,925, or $535.57 every two weeks.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes in South Carolina?
For a single filer with no pre-tax deductions in South Carolina, taxes take about 8% of pay for a full-time minimum wage job ($15,080), 17% at the state median of $46,490 and 24% at twice the median ($93,000). That counts federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, plus South Carolina income tax.
How much is the median hourly wage in South Carolina after taxes?
The median hourly wage in South Carolina is $22.35. Working 40 hours a week, that is $46,488 a year, and a single filer takes home about $38,766, or $745.51 a week ($18.64 per hour worked).
How much does the average South Carolina worker take home?
The average (mean) wage in South Carolina is $59,280 a year. After 2026 taxes, a single filer earning that keeps about $48,197 a year, or $1,853.71 every two weeks. The average is higher than the median because high earners pull it up.
How are bonuses taxed in South Carolina?
Employers usually withhold federal tax on a bonus at a flat 22%, plus Social Security and Medicare and South Carolina income tax. On a $5,000 bonus with a $46,490 salary, a single filer in South Carolina sees about $3,186 on payday and may get about $500 back at tax time.
What is the average salary in South Carolina?
The average (mean) wage in South Carolina is $59,280 a year, and the median is $46,490 ($22.35 an hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025. Half of South Carolina workers earn more than the median and half earn less.
What is the median household income in South Carolina?
The median household income in South Carolina was $72,350 in 2024, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Household income combines everyone in the home, so it is higher than a typical single paycheck.
What do OASDI and FICA mean on my South Carolina pay stub?
OASDI is Social Security tax: 6.2% of your wages up to $184,500 in 2026. FICA is Social Security plus Medicare (1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000), 7.65% in total for most workers. On a South Carolina minimum wage paycheck ($580.00 for two weeks full time), FICA takes $44.37.
How much of my paycheck goes to Social Security and Medicare?
Social Security takes 6.2% of your wages up to $184,500 in 2026, and Medicare takes 1.45% of all wages. Medicare adds another 0.9% on wages above $200,000. At the South Carolina median wage of $46,490, that is $2,882 for Social Security and $674 for Medicare a year, or $136.79 per biweekly paycheck.
Why is my real paycheck a little different?
Your employer withholds using the W-4 you filled in and IRS Publication 15-T. Extra withholding, a second job, dependents, or other benefits change the number. This calculator spreads your estimated yearly tax evenly across your paychecks.
Do you take home more in South Carolina or Georgia?
On a $46,490 (the South Carolina median) salary, a single filer keeps about $805 a year more in South Carolina than in Georgia. Georgia: $37,963, North Carolina: $38,188, Tennessee: $39,535; South Carolina: $38,768 (single filer, $46,490 salary, no pre-tax deductions).