South Carolina paycheck calculator 2026
Estimate your take-home pay in South Carolina after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, South Carolina income tax. Hourly or salary.
What comes out of your paycheck in South CarolinaHourly take-home pay in South Carolina
Full time (40 hours a week), biweekly paycheck, single filer with one job and no deductions.
| You earn | Gross per paycheck | Federal | Social Security & Medicare | State and local | Take-home | You keep | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/h | $1,200.00 | −$60.15 | −$91.80 | −$16.66 | $1,031.39 | 85.9% | $26,816 |
| $20/h | $1,600.00 | −$108.15 | −$122.40 | −$38.09 | $1,331.36 | 83.2% | $34,615 |
| $25/h | $2,000.00 | −$156.15 | −$153.00 | −$59.69 | $1,631.16 | 81.6% | $42,410 |
| $30/h | $2,400.00 | −$204.15 | −$183.60 | −$81.29 | $1,930.96 | 80.5% | $50,205 |
| $40/h | $3,200.00 | −$364.38 | −$244.80 | −$126.38 | $2,464.44 | 77.0% | $64,075 |
Salary after taxes in South Carolina
Annual salary split into 26 paychecks.
| You earn | Gross per paycheck | Federal | Social Security & Medicare | State and local | Take-home | You keep | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,923.08 | −$146.92 | −$147.11 | −$55.53 | $1,573.52 | 81.8% | $40,912 |
| $75,000 | $2,884.62 | −$295.00 | −$220.68 | −$107.46 | $2,261.48 | 78.4% | $58,798 |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | −$506.54 | −$294.23 | −$165.15 | $2,880.23 | 74.9% | $74,886 |
South Carolina deductions, line by line
Example at $22 an hour, 80 hours, biweekly paycheck.
South Carolina · −$46.73
This is South Carolina state income tax. Your annualized pay is reduced by $5,000 per allowance and a 10% standard deduction (up to $7,500), then taxed at 0% up to $3,640, 3% up to $18,230 and 6% above that. We assume an SC W-4 for one job, no dependents: 2 allowances if single and 3 if head of household or married with one income in the household.
Source: SCDOR, WH-1603F (2026)If your situation has more to it
The assumptions behind the estimate
Assumes you filed the SC W-4 with the allowances its worksheet gives someone with one job, no dependents: two if single, three if head of household and three if married filing jointly with one income in the household. South Carolina's formula does not vary by filing status, only by allowances.
What is not included
South Carolina has no local wage taxes and no state payroll deductions for employees. If you have more than one job or your spouse also works, actual withholding will be higher; with dependents it will be lower.
Frequently asked questions
How much tax is taken out of a paycheck in South Carolina?
At $20 an hour and 40 hours a week, a biweekly paycheck of $1,600.00 has $108.15 of federal income tax, $122.40 of Social Security and Medicare and $38.09 of state taxes withheld. You take home $1,331.36, or 83.2%. This is an estimate for a single filer with one job and no deductions.
Does South Carolina have a state income tax on wages?
Yes. This is South Carolina state income tax.
Are there city or county taxes in South Carolina?
We found no local taxes withheld from employee paychecks in South Carolina.
Is overtime taxed more?
There is no special rate for overtime: it is added to your pay for the period and withholding is figured on the total, which is why the check grows less than you expect. From 2025 through 2028 you can deduct from federal income tax the extra half of your overtime (up to $12,500; $25,000 if married) if your income is under $150,000; it only lowers each paycheck's withholding if you entered it on your W-4.
How accurate is this paycheck calculator?
It uses the official 2026 withholding rules from the IRS and South Carolina. It is still an estimate: your employer knows your W-4, your deductions and your year-to-date earnings. It is not tax or legal advice.
Official sources
- IRS, Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS, Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — Social Security and Medicare
- SCDOR, WH-1603F: Formula for Computing South Carolina 2026 Withholding Tax (Rev. 11/4/25)
- SCDOR, SC W-4 2026 (Rev. 12/5/25) — Personal Allowances Worksheet, líneas A a D