South Carolina Paycheck Calculator 2026 — Take-Home Pay After Tax

How paychecks work in South Carolina

Every paycheck issued in South Carolina has three federal withholdings — federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare — followed by South Carolina's own withholding rules and any local wage tax that applies where you work. South Carolina has a progressive state income tax with a top marginal rate of 6.20%. South Carolina's economy has been reshaped by BMW in Spartanburg, Boeing 787 assembly in Charleston, tire manufacturing, and coastal tourism.

This page explains, step by step, how gross wages become take-home pay in South Carolina: what the federal government takes, what the state of South Carolina takes, which cities and localities add their own withholding, and how minimum wage, overtime, and pay-frequency rules interact with common benefits like 401(k) contributions and pre-tax health premiums.

Federal taxes on South Carolina paychecks

Regardless of where you live, the IRS applies the same federal income tax brackets, standard deduction, and FICA contributions. For 2026, the federal tax brackets range from 10% on the first ~$12,400 of taxable income (single) up to 37% on income above roughly $626,000. Most workers land in the 12%, 22%, or 24% brackets after subtracting the $16,100 single (or $32,200 married-jointly) standard deduction.

On top of federal income tax, every South Carolina employee pays FICA: 6.2% Social Security up to a $184,500 wage base, plus 1.45% Medicare on all wages, with an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax on wages over $200,000 (single). Employers match Social Security and Medicare dollar-for-dollar; you only see your half on the stub.

South Carolina state income tax

South Carolina uses 3 tax brackets ranging from 0.00% on the first dollars of taxable income up to 6.20% on income above $17,830. The state standard deduction is $15,000 single / $30,000 married.

The top marginal bracket of 6.20% kicks in only after the income thresholds shown above; most South Carolina residents effectively pay a lower blended rate because the first dollars of income are taxed at the lower brackets, and the state standard deduction reduce the amount actually taxed.

Local wage taxes in South Carolina

No local income taxes on wages.

FICA: Social Security and Medicare

Social Security is the biggest single deduction most middle-income South Carolina workers see besides federal income tax. It funds retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, and applies at 6.2% until you have earned $184,500 for the year (2026). If you earn more than that, Social Security stops for the remainder of the year — a highly visible bump in take-home pay for high earners late in the calendar year.

Medicare has no cap. All wages are hit at 1.45%, and an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies to any wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). Employers begin withholding the additional 0.9% the pay period you cross $200,000, whether or not you'll actually owe it after year-end.

Overtime rules for South Carolina employees

Follows federal FLSA: 1.5x for hours over 40/week.

Overtime pay itself is taxed exactly the same way as regular wages — there is no special overtime tax rate. But because a paycheck with lots of overtime looks temporarily much larger, employer withholding formulas may withhold a higher percentage than your true annual rate. That withholding is reconciled at tax time via your federal 1040 and South Carolina state return, so if you consistently work overtime you may want to review your W-4 to avoid over-withholding.

Minimum wage in South Carolina

The current minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25 per hour. South Carolina follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr. At 40 hours per week and 52 weeks per year, that equates to roughly $15,080 in gross annual wages before overtime.

Pay frequency rules

Wages must be paid on regular paydays designated in advance. Most private-sector employees in South Carolina are paid either weekly or bi-weekly, with salaried professionals often on a semi-monthly schedule. Choosing the right pay-frequency assumption is important when using the calculator above, because the same annual salary produces different per-paycheck amounts depending on whether it's split over 26 (bi-weekly) or 24 (semi-monthly) periods.

Example take-home pay in South Carolina

The table below shows estimated federal, FICA, and South Carolina state tax for a single filer at several common salary levels, using 2026 rules and the standard deduction. Bi-weekly amounts assume 26 paychecks per year.

Common South Carolina payroll deductions to watch

• 401(k) contributions — pre-tax dollars reduce federal (and, in South Carolina, state) income tax. The 2026 employee limit is $24,500 ($32,000 if age 50+).
• Pre-tax health premiums — Section 125 cafeteria plan contributions reduce federal, state, and FICA-taxable wages.
• HSA contributions — for high-deductible health plans, HSA money is pre-tax at both federal and state levels in South Carolina.
• Garnishments, child support, and Roth 401(k) — these post-tax deductions do not reduce taxable wages but still cut take-home pay.
• South Carolina cut its top marginal rate to 6.2% in 2026 with plans for further reductions.
• The Port of Charleston is the busiest East Coast port for containerized exports.

Key industries and pay levels in South Carolina

South Carolina's top industries include Automotive, Aerospace, Tourism, Tire Manufacturing, and Ports/Logistics. Major employers like BMW Manufacturing, Boeing South Carolina, Michelin North America, and Prisma Health anchor a large share of state payrolls, and pay levels tend to track industry mix — states heavy on technology, finance, and aerospace typically show higher median household income than states dominated by agriculture, tourism, or retail.