Last updated: September 2026

South Carolina Paycheck Calculator

A single filer earning $75,000 in South Carolina owes about $2,657 in state income tax for 2026 and keeps about $58,935, or $2,267 every two weeks. But the 2026 withholding tables were published before the state's new tax law passed, so paychecks are likely to have about $437 more withheld than that over the year.

South Carolina tax data current for 2025 & 2026 · 2027 available as a projection · Updated for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Estimate Your Take-Home Pay

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Pre-Tax Deductions (optional)
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Reduces taxable income. Does not reduce Social Security or Medicare.

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Section 125 plan — reduces income tax and FICA.

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Reduces income tax and FICA.

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From Step 4(c) of your W-4.

Results update automatically as you type.

Estimated Take-Home Pay
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per paycheck
Item Per Check Annual
Gross Pay — —
Federal Income Tax — —
Social Security (6.2%) — —
Medicare (1.45%) — —
Take-Home Pay — —
Effective Tax Rate
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all taxes combined
Total Deductions
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per paycheck

Estimates federal, state, and select city taxes. Actual withholding may vary.

South Carolina Salary After Taxes at Common Pay Levels (2026)

Salary after taxes for a single filer in South Carolina: this table estimates take-home pay after federal income tax, FICA (Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45%), and South Carolina state income tax. Based on the 2026 IRS tax tables and the South Carolina state 2026 tax schedule.

Annual Salary Federal Tax FICA SC Tax Take-Home Effective Rate
$40,000 $2,620 $3,060 $498 $33,823 15.4%
$60,000 $5,020 $4,590 $1,663 $48,727 18.8%
$80,000 $8,770 $6,120 $2,989 $62,121 22.3%
$100,000 $13,170 $7,650 $4,244 $74,936 25.1%
$150,000 $24,734 $11,475 $6,849 $106,942 28.7%
$200,000 $36,734 $14,339 $9,454 $139,473 30.3%

Single filer, no pre-tax deductions. Assumes year-round wages; standard deduction applied. The federal brackets, standard deduction and Social Security wage base behind these figures are on the 2026 tax figures page.

South Carolina Take-Home Pay by Pay Frequency (2026)

The same South Carolina take-home figures divided across common pay schedules — what actually lands in your account each payday, after federal tax, FICA, and South Carolina state income tax.

Annual Salary Weekly52/yr Biweekly26/yr Semi-Monthly24/yr Monthly12/yr
$40,000 $650 $1,301 $1,409 $2,819
$60,000 $937 $1,874 $2,030 $4,061
$80,000 $1,195 $2,389 $2,588 $5,177
$100,000 $1,441 $2,882 $3,122 $6,245
$150,000 $2,057 $4,113 $4,456 $8,912
$200,000 $2,682 $5,364 $5,811 $11,623

Biweekly and semi-monthly are not the same thing. Biweekly means every other Friday — 26 paychecks a year, so two months each year contain three paydays. Semi-monthly means twice a month (often the 15th and the last day) — 24 slightly larger paychecks. On a $40,000 salary in South Carolina, that difference is about $108 per check. Annual take-home is identical either way.

Single filer, no pre-tax deductions. Divides annual take-home evenly; real paychecks vary slightly with withholding rounding and benefit deductions.

What's different about a South Carolina paycheck

Withholding still uses the old rates

South Carolina's 2026 withholding formula, revised November 4, 2025, withholds 3% and then 6% of taxable wages, the rate structure before H. 4216 cut the top rate to 5.21% in March 2026. For a single filer at $75,000 claiming one allowance, the formula withholds about $3,094 against a tax of about $2,657. The difference comes back as a refund on the 2026 return, filed in 2027, unless the department issues new tables first.

How the withholding formula works

Employers subtract $5,000 for each allowance on your SC W-4, plus a standard deduction of 10% of wages, up to $7,500, if you claim at least one allowance. Claim none and neither is subtracted. The rest is withheld at 0% up to $3,640, 3% up to $18,230, and 6% above.

The calculator shows tax owed

The figures on this page are 2026 tax under the new law, including the phasing South Carolina Income Adjusted Deduction, not the amount the withholding tables take. Expect your pay stub to show somewhat more state tax than the calculator until the tables change.

No local income tax, no state leave premium

South Carolina cities and counties don't tax wages, and there is no state disability or paid leave deduction.

Minimum wage

South Carolina has no minimum wage law of its own, so the federal $7.25 applies to employers covered by federal law. Full-time that is $15,080 a year.

For the annual picture, including capital gains, credits, and filing deadlines, see the South Carolina income tax calculator.

South Carolina Income Tax Brackets (2026)

Tax RateSingle FilerMarried Filing Jointly
1.99%$0 – $30,000$0 – $30,000
5.21%Over $30,000Over $30,000
Standard Deduction
$15,000 single · $30,000 joint Shrinks by 27.273% of income over $40,000 (27.273% over $80,000 joint)

Brackets shown are marginal: each rate applies only to the portion of taxable income within that bracket, not your total income. Taxable income equals gross wages minus pre-tax deductions and the standard deduction.

Top Cities in South Carolina

The largest cities in South Carolina, by U.S. Census Bureau estimate for July 1, 2025:

  • Charleston — 159,423 residents
  • Columbia — 147,035 residents
  • North Charleston — 129,245 residents

How South Carolina Compares to Neighboring States

Single-filer take-home on a $75,000 annual salary in 2026, federal + state income tax + FICA only:

State Take-Home vs. South Carolina
South Carolina (here) $58,935 —
North Carolina $59,109 +$174
Georgia $58,599 -$337

Take-home reflects single filer, no pre-tax deductions; SDI/PFML and local taxes excluded for an apples-to-apples comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the South Carolina state income tax rate?

South Carolina has progressive income tax brackets ranging from 1.99% to 5.21%. Most middle-income earners hit the middle brackets; the top rate applies only above $30,000.

How much is taken out of my paycheck in South Carolina?

For a single filer earning $75,000 in South Carolina (2026), expect roughly $7,670 in federal income tax, $5,738 in FICA, and $2,657 in South Carolina state income tax — leaving about $58,935 take-home (21.4% effective tax rate). South Carolina has no state paid-leave premium and no local income tax, so those are the only deductions required by law.

Why is more South Carolina tax withheld than I will owe in 2026?

The 2026 withholding formula was set in November 2025 using the old 3% and 6% rates. H. 4216, signed in March 2026, lowered the top rate to 5.21%, so most workers will get the difference back when they file.

How many allowances should I claim on the SC W-4?

Each allowance lowers the income withheld on by $5,000 a year, and claiming at least one also brings in the 10% standard deduction. Claiming zero means no allowance and no standard deduction, the most withholding possible.

Is there a city income tax in South Carolina?

No. Only state income tax is withheld.

What is the minimum wage in South Carolina?

$7.25 an hour, the federal minimum. South Carolina has no minimum wage law of its own.

More South Carolina Calculators

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