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South Carolina Hourly Paycheck Calculator

An hourly wage in South Carolina is reduced by federal income tax, FICA of 7.65% (6.2% Social Security up to the annual wage base plus 1.45% Medicare), and South Carolina's graduated income tax (3% to 6%) in 2026. Enter your wage and hours to see net pay for any pay frequency. Against the 2 states South Carolina borders, the same $25 an hour is worth $41,999 here: North Carolina keeps $397 more ($42,396) and Georgia leaves $113 less ($41,886). North Carolina is the only border worth crossing for the tax alone.

Estimated take-home

$1,615

every two weeks · $41,999 a year

For $25/hr, 40 hrs a week · South Carolina · single

Take-home 81%Taxes & deductions 19%

Pay stub

ItemPer paycheckPer year
Gross pay$2,000.00$52,000
Federal income tax− $156.15− $4,060
Social Security (FICA)− $124.00− $3,224
Medicare (FICA)− $29.00− $754
South Carolina income tax− $75.50− $1,963
Take-home pay$1,615.35$41,999

FICA is Social Security plus Medicare.

Estimate based on 2026 federal and South Carolina tax rules updated Oct 2026 How we calculate

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You keep

81¢of every dollar

On average you keep 81¢ of each dollar. Of your next $1,000, you’d keep about $744: the dashed line.

Insights

  • Next $1,000

    Every extra $1,000 you earn adds about $744 to your take-home. The other $256 goes to tax.

  • In Texas

    In Texas the same pay would leave you $1,963 more a year. Texas has no state income tax.

  • Overtime

    One more overtime hour a week ($37.50) would add about $56 to each paycheck after withholding.

State comparisons cover income and payroll taxes only; living costs and other taxes differ.

Effective tax rate 19.2%

What common hourly wages leave in South Carolina

Worked full time at 40 hours a week in South Carolina, here is what common wages leave after federal tax, South Carolina income tax and FICA in 2026:

WageGrossSouth Carolina taxYou keepShare kept
$18/hour$37,440$1,089$31,17483.3%
$25/hour$52,000$1,963$41,99980.8%
$35/hour$72,800$3,211$56,83478.1%

South Carolina takes about 3.8% of that money on top of the 8% federal marginal rate and 7.65% FICA.

How South Carolina ranks on hourly wages

Across all 50 states and DC, South Carolina ranks 33rd for what $25 an hour leaves in 2026. That is $261 less than the median state ($42,260), and $2,325 more than Oregon, where the same $25 an hour leaves $39,674.

The best outcome anywhere is $43,962 in Alaska and the other states with no wage income tax, $1,963 more than South Carolina keeps.

South Carolina hourly wages against the states next door

Crossing a state line changes what the same hourly wage is worth without changing what you are paid. Here is $25 an hour in South Carolina against the states it borders:

StateState income taxYou keepvs South Carolina
South Carolina$1,963$41,999—
Georgia$2,076$41,886$113 less
North Carolina$1,566$42,396$397 more

How hourly take-home pay is calculated in South Carolina

Your hourly wage is just the starting point. South Carolina workers pay federal and state taxes on their annualized income, plus mandatory FICA contributions. Here's exactly how it works.

  • Annualized income determines your bracket: Your employer annualizes your hourly income (hourly rate × hours × 52 weeks) to determine the correct withholding for each paycheck.
  • South Carolina state income tax: Wages are taxed through South Carolina's graduated income tax (3% to 6%), applied to each paycheck based on your annualized income and filing status.
  • Social Security and Medicare: FICA taxes are 6.2% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base) and 1.45% for Medicare. These are fixed percentages with no deductions or exemptions.
  • Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income: Contributions to a 401(k), HSA, or FSA are deducted before taxes are calculated, lowering both your taxable income and your tax bill.

The calculator combines all these factors to show your exact take-home pay per paycheck, per month, and annually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hourly wages in South Carolina are subject to federal income tax (based on your annualized income and filing status), South Carolina's graduated income tax (3% to 6%), and FICA taxes (Social Security at 6.2% up to the annual wage base and Medicare at 1.45%). The calculator annualizes your hourly income to determine the correct tax bracket, then shows your actual per-paycheck take-home.

Multiply your hourly rate by your weekly hours, then by 52: $25/hour × 40 hours × 52 weeks is $52,000 a year. That annualized figure sets your federal and South Carolina bracket. In South Carolina it works out to $31,174 on $18 an hour, $41,999 on $25 an hour, $56,834 on $35 an hour: take-home, not gross.

Federal income tax (using progressive brackets based on your annualized income and filing status), South Carolina's graduated income tax (3% to 6%), Social Security tax (6.2% up to the wage base, currently $176,100 for 2026), and Medicare tax (1.45% on all income, plus 0.9% for earnings over $200,000 if single or $250,000 if married).

South Carolina's minimum wage is set by state law and may be higher than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Some cities within South Carolina have their own higher local minimums. Check your employer's offer against the current South Carolina Department of Labor rates to verify compliance.

Your total annual tax is the same however often you're paid; only the per-paycheck withholding changes. On $25 an hour in South Carolina that is about $1,615 every two weeks, $1,750 semi-monthly or $3,500 a month after tax. The calculator adjusts withholding for weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly and monthly periods.

Against the 2 states South Carolina borders, the same $25 an hour is worth $41,999 here: North Carolina keeps $397 more ($42,396) and Georgia leaves $113 less ($41,886). North Carolina is the only border worth crossing for the tax alone.

South Carolina's 6.5% top rate is higher than many people expect for a 'low-cost' state. The compressed brackets mean someone earning $20,000 pays the same top rate (6.5%) as someone earning $200,000, making the 'progressive' label practically meaningless for most taxpayers. A $75,000 earner pays an effective rate around 6.2%-6.5% (approximately $4,650-$4,875 annually), while the same earner in a flat-tax state like Pennsylvania would pay $2,300 (3.07% flat, though PA may have local EIT). South Carolina's effective rate is among the higher rates in the nation for most earners.

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