South Carolina Paycheck Calculator 2026
Enter your pay and your SC W-4 allowances to see what lands in your bank account. South Carolina withholds income tax at 3% or 6% on yearly pay above $3,640 - we show each step of the state's formula.
How much does South Carolina take out for taxes? On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks (single, standard W-4), South Carolina takes $87.84 of each $2,307.69 paycheck - 3.8% of pay. With federal income tax ($193.08) and Social Security and Medicare ($176.54), $457.46 comes out in all - 19.8% - and you keep $1,850.23.
= $925.12 a week · $4,008.85 a month · $48,106.16 a year
Gross pay$2,307.69$60,000.00
Your pay before anything is taken out: yearly pay divided by the 26 paychecks in a year (hourly pay is a week's pay × 52, spread the same way).
Federal income tax · withheld−$193.08−$5,020.00
Worked out from your pay and your Form W-4 with the IRS percentage method (Worksheet 1A): yearly pay, minus the allowance for your filing status, into the 2026 annual table, minus W-4 credits, divided by paychecks. Each line, for this paycheck:
| Pay subject to income tax, for the year · $2,307.69 × 26 paychecks | $60,000.00 |
| Minus the IRS withholding allowance · Pub 15-T Worksheet 1A, line 1g | −$8,600.00 |
| Adjusted yearly wage | $51,400.00 |
| Tax from the IRS yearly table · standard table | $5,020.00 |
| Federal income tax per paycheck · divided by 26 | $193.08 |
IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A - the percentage method payroll software uses for a Form W-4 from 2020 or later. Your employer's figure can differ by a few cents because of rounding.
Adjusted yearly wage: $51,400.00, so this row applies:
| Over | Not over | Base tax | + rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $7,500 | $0.00 | 0% |
| $7,500 | $19,900 | $0.00 | 10% |
| $19,900 | $57,900 | $1,240.00 | 12% Your row |
| $57,900 | $113,200 | $5,800.00 | 22% |
| $113,200 | $209,275 | $17,966.00 | 24% |
| $209,275 | $263,725 | $41,024.00 | 32% |
| $263,725 | $648,100 | $58,448.00 | 35% |
| $648,100 | - | $192,979.25 | 37% |
$1,240.00 + 12% × ($51,400.00 − $19,900.00) = $5,020.00
Source: IRS Publication 15-T (2026) · checked Sep 21, 2026
Social Security (6.2%)−$143.08−$3,720.00
6.2% of your pay (after pre-tax benefits, not after 401(k)) up to $184,500 of pay in 2026. Once your pay for the year passes that, it stops until January. Stubs often call it OASDI or FICA.
Source: Social Security Administration - 2026 wage base · checked Sep 21, 2026
Medicare (1.45%)−$33.46−$870.00
1.45% of all your pay, with no yearly limit, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare on pay above $200,000 in the year.
Source: IRS Publication 15 (2026) · checked Sep 21, 2026
South Carolina income tax · withheld−$87.84−$2,283.84
withheld at 0%, 3% or 6% under the 2026 SCDOR formula. Worked out with South Carolina's official 2026 withholding tables, step by step:
| Pay subject to S.C. tax, for the year · this paycheck × 26 | $60,000.00 |
| Minus SC W-4 allowances · 1 × $5,000 | −$5,000.00 |
| Minus standard deduction · 10% of yearly pay, up to $7,500 | −$6,000.00 |
| Yearly taxable pay for withholding | $49,000.00 |
| Yearly S.C. tax · 6% − $656.10 | $2,283.90 |
| S.C. tax from the formula this paycheck · ÷ 26 | $87.84 |
Yearly taxable pay for withholding: $49,000.00, so this row applies:
| From | Up to | Rate | Minus |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $3,640 | 0% | $0.00 |
| $3,640 | $18,230 | 3% | $109.20 |
| $18,230 | - | 6% | $656.10 Your row |
6% × $49,000.00 − $656.10 = $2,283.90
Source: SCDOR - Withholding FAQs · checked Oct 16, 2026
Built by Ashish Hirpara · figures from IRS and state publications · sources · corrections
What comes out of a South Carolina paycheck
- Federal income tax withholding - worked out from your pay and your Form W-4, using the IRS tables for 2026.
- Social Security - 6.2% of your pay, up to $184,500 of pay in 2026. Above that, it stops for the rest of the year.
- Medicare - 1.45% of all your pay, plus 0.9% on pay above $200,000 in the year.
South Carolina has a graduated income tax. Employers work out how much to withhold with the formula the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) published for 2026:
- Your pay subject to income tax - after a traditional 401(k) and pre-tax health insurance, as for federal tax - is turned into a yearly amount.
- $5,000 comes off for each allowance on your SC W-4.
- If you claim at least one allowance, a standard deduction of 10% of your yearly pay comes off too, up to $7,500. With zero allowances there is no standard deduction.
- What's left is taxed: nothing if it is under $3,640; 3% minus $109.20 from $3,640 to $18,230; and 6% minus $656.10 from $18,230 up.
- That yearly tax is divided by your number of paychecks. Any extra amount you asked for on your SC W-4 is added on top.
South Carolina has no employee-paid state payroll programs. Unemployment insurance is paid by employers on the first $14,000 of each worker's wages, and no part of it is taken from your pay.
What's different about South Carolina
Withholding and your return use different rates this year
A new state law, signed on March 30, 2026, changed the rates for 2026 returns: 1.99% on income under $30,000, and 5.21% minus $966 from $30,000 up. It also replaced the federal standard deduction with a South Carolina deduction of $15,000 for single filers, $22,500 for heads of household and $30,000 for married couples filing jointly. SCDOR's 2026 withholding formula was published before that law and has not been changed, so the amount taken from each paycheck still follows the formula above. What you owe when you file can be different from what was withheld.
Your SC W-4 allowances
The SC W-4 is South Carolina's version of the W-4. Its worksheet gives 1 allowance for yourself, 1 more if you file jointly or as head of household, and 1 for each dependent. Each allowance lowers your yearly taxable pay by $5,000. If you never gave your employer an SC W-4, it withholds as if you claimed zero allowances - and with zero allowances the formula also drops the standard deduction, so more is withheld. Enter 0 above to match.
One table for everyone
The withholding formula has no separate tables for single or married workers. Your federal filing status does not change your South Carolina withholding here; only your allowances and any extra amount do.
Paydays and your last paycheck
When you are hired, your employer must tell you in writing your normal hours and pay. Each payday you get a statement showing your gross pay and each deduction. When you leave a job for any reason, your employer must pay all wages due within 48 hours, or on the next regular payday, which can't be more than 30 days later.
Unpaid wages
You can file a complaint with the Office of Wages and Child Labor at the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. You can also sue: state law lets a court award 3 times the unpaid wages plus costs and attorney's fees, if the case is brought within 3 years after the wages were due.
South Carolina salary after tax
Each answer is worked out by the same calculator as above, for a single filer paid every two weeks with a standard W-4 and no 401(k) or benefits. Jump to: $35,000 · $45,000 · $55,000 · $60,000 · $65,000 · $75,000 · $80,000 · $90,000 · $100,000 · $120,000 · $150,000
How much is $35,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $29,369 a year - $1,129.56 every two weeks, or about $2,447 a month. That's after $2,020 of federal income tax, $2,678 of Social Security and Medicare and $934 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 84%. Try $35,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $45,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $36,864 a year - $1,417.82 every two weeks, or about $3,072 a month. That's after $3,220 of federal income tax, $3,443 of Social Security and Medicare and $1,474 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 82%. Try $45,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $55,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $44,359 a year - $1,706.10 every two weeks, or about $3,697 a month. That's after $4,420 of federal income tax, $4,208 of Social Security and Medicare and $2,014 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 81%. Try $55,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $60,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $48,106 a year - $1,850.23 every two weeks, or about $4,009 a month. That's after $5,020 of federal income tax, $4,590 of Social Security and Medicare and $2,284 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 80%. Try $60,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $65,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $51,854 a year - $1,994.37 every two weeks, or about $4,321 a month. That's after $5,620 of federal income tax, $4,973 of Social Security and Medicare and $2,554 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 80%. Try $65,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $75,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $58,499 a year - $2,249.94 every two weeks, or about $4,875 a month. That's after $7,670 of federal income tax, $5,738 of Social Security and Medicare and $3,094 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 78%. Try $75,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $80,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $61,716 a year - $2,373.69 every two weeks, or about $5,143 a month. That's after $8,770 of federal income tax, $6,120 of Social Security and Medicare and $3,394 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 77%. Try $80,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $90,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $68,151 a year - $2,621.20 every two weeks, or about $5,679 a month. That's after $10,970 of federal income tax, $6,885 of Social Security and Medicare and $3,994 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 76%. Try $90,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $100,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $74,586 a year - $2,868.69 every two weeks, or about $6,216 a month. That's after $13,170 of federal income tax, $7,650 of Social Security and Medicare and $4,594 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 75%. Try $100,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $120,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $87,456 a year - $3,363.70 every two weeks, or about $7,288 a month. That's after $17,570 of federal income tax, $9,180 of Social Security and Medicare and $5,794 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 73%. Try $120,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
How much is $150,000 a year after tax in South Carolina?
About $106,197 a year - $4,084.51 every two weeks, or about $8,850 a month. That's after $24,734 of federal income tax, $11,475 of Social Security and Medicare and $7,594 in South Carolina taxes; you keep 71%. Try $150,000 with your own W-4 and deductions.
South Carolina vs neighboring states
Take-home pay on a $60,000 salary, single filer paid every two weeks with a standard W-4. "State taxes" counts state and local income tax withheld (with each calculator's default choices) plus any employee-paid state payroll premium; federal tax, Social Security and Medicare are the same everywhere.
| State | State taxes | Take-home | vs here |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $1,924 | $48,466 | +$360 |
| Georgia | $2,246 | $48,144 | +$38 |
| South Carolina | $2,284 | $48,106 | - |
Where you live and where you work can both matter when the two states differ - check each state's page.
Moving? North Carolina vs South Carolina taxes · Salary needed to move
What changed for 2026
South Carolina's 2026 withholding formula lowered the top withholding rate and raised the allowance and deduction. A new law also changed the rates for 2026 returns.
- New federal withholding tables. The IRS updated Publication 15-T for 2026, including changes from the 2025 tax law. The standard deduction is $16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly, and $24,150 head of household.
- Social Security wage base: $184,500 (up from $176,100). If you earn more, Social Security stops later in the year.
- Tips and overtime deductions for 2025–2028 - see below.
- Top withholding rate: 6% (was 6.2% in 2025).
- Allowance: $5,000 each (was $4,860).
- Standard deduction cap: $7,500 (was $7,300).
- Bracket lines: no withholding under $3,640 (was $3,560); the top rate starts at $18,230 (was $17,830).
- Rates for your 2026 return: a law signed March 30, 2026 set 1.99% under $30,000 and 5.21% minus $966 above. The withholding formula was not changed.
- Minimum wage: still $7.25, the federal rate, because South Carolina has no minimum wage law of its own.
Why your paycheck might differ from this
- Your W-4. Credits for children (Step 3), a checked Step 2 box, or extra withholding (Step 4c) change the federal amount a lot. Open "Tips, 401(k), health insurance and W-4 details" above to enter them.
- Benefits taken before tax. Health insurance through work usually lowers income tax and Social Security and Medicare. A traditional 401(k) lowers income tax only.
- Rounding. Payroll software may round each step, so a few cents of difference is normal.
Tips and overtime in 2026
New federal deductions apply for 2025 through 2028: up to $25,000 for qualified tips, and up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) for the extra "half" of time-and-a-half overtime. Both phase out above $150,000 of income ($300,000 joint).
These are deductions on your tax return. Your employer still takes Social Security and Medicare out of tips and overtime, and still withholds income tax unless you tell it otherwise. If you expect to claim them, you can put the expected amount in Step 4(b) of your W-4 (and in the Step 4(b) box above) so less income tax is withheld during the year.
More for South Carolina
Paycheck calculator · Hourly · Salary · Bonus tax · Rent you can afford · Employer payroll taxes
Other tools: What changed for 2026 · Hourly to salary · Salary to hourly · Overtime · Raise · Net to gross · Compare two states · All state tax rates · How South Carolina ranks on $75,000 · Pay stub checker · W-4 guide
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Sources
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods - Worksheet 1A and the annual percentage-method tables
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide - Social Security and Medicare rates
- Social Security Administration - 2026 wage base of $184,500
- IRS - tips and overtime deductions
- SCDOR - Withholding FAQs - no supplemental-wage rule published in the FAQ, WH-1603F (Rev. 11/4/25) or WH-105 (read Sep 27, 2026)
- SCDOR - WH-1603F, Formula for Computing SC Withholding Tax, 2026 (Rev. 11/4/25) - $5,000 per allowance; standard deduction 10% of wages up to $7,500, $0 with zero allowances; 0% / 3% − $109.20 / 6% − $656.10; worked example $750 weekly, 3 allowances → $10.58
- SCDOR - WH-1603, 2026 Withholding Tax Tables
- SCDOR - Withholding tables and formulas - 2026 tables, formula and SC W-4 listed; no mid-year revision as of the checked date
- SCDOR - South Carolina withholding tables updated for 2026 (November 6, 2025) - use the 2026 tables and 2026 SC W-4 from January 1, 2026
- SCDOR - WH-1603F, 2025 formula (Rev. 11/12/24) - $4,860 per allowance; standard deduction up to $7,300; 0% to $3,560, 3% to $17,830, 6.2% above
- SCDOR - SC W-4, 2026 (Rev. 12/5/25) - line 5 allowances; line 6 additional amount; line 7 exempt
- SCDOR - WH-105, South Carolina Withholding Tax Information Guide - withhold at zero allowances if no SC W-4 is provided
- SCDOR - Information about H. 4216 (April 15, 2026) - signed March 30, 2026; 2026 return rates 1.99% under $30,000 and 5.21% minus $966 from $30,000; SC Income Adjusted Deduction $15,000 / $22,500 / $30,000
- S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce - Paying your tax - UI tax on the first $14,000 of each worker's wages
- S.C. Workplace Laws: Notice to Employees - Unemployment Insurance (poster) - employees do not fund unemployment insurance through deductions from pay
- U.S. Department of Labor - State minimum wage laws (updated July 1, 2026) - South Carolina: no state minimum wage law; employers covered by the FLSA pay the federal $7.25
- U.S. Department of Labor - Minimum wages for tipped employees (updated July 1, 2026) - South Carolina: federal rules - $2.13 cash wage, $5.12 tip credit, more than $30 a month in tips
- U.S. Department of Labor - Overtime pay - time and one-half after 40 hours in a workweek
- S.C. Code Title 41, Chapter 10 - Payment of Wages - § 41-10-30 written notice at hiring of normal hours and wages, itemized statement of gross pay and deductions each pay period; § 41-10-50 final pay within 48 hours or next regular payday, not over 30 days; § 41-10-80 three times unpaid wages, three years
- S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation - Office of Wages and Child Labor FAQ - final pay rule; no state requirement for breaks or lunch
Questions
How much does South Carolina take out for taxes?
On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks (single, standard W-4), South Carolina takes $87.84 of each $2,307.69 paycheck - 3.8% of pay. With federal income tax ($193.08) and Social Security and Medicare ($176.54), $457.46 comes out in all - 19.8% - and you keep $1,850.23.
What are the South Carolina withholding rates in 2026?
SCDOR's 2026 formula withholds nothing on yearly taxable pay under $3,640, 3% minus $109.20 from $3,640 to $18,230, and 6% minus $656.10 above that.
How much is taken out of a $1,000 paycheck in South Carolina?
For a single filer paid every two weeks with nothing else on the W-4, a $1,000 paycheck has about $38.08 of federal income tax, $62.00 of Social Security and $14.50 of Medicare taken out, $17.23 of South Carolina income tax, leaving $868.19. Enter your own details in the calculator for your exact figure.
What happens if I didn't fill out an SC W-4?
Your employer withholds as if you claimed zero allowances. With zero allowances the formula gives no standard deduction either, so more is withheld.
Does South Carolina take anything else out of my paycheck?
No other state payroll tax. Unemployment insurance is paid by employers only.
What is the minimum wage in South Carolina?
$7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage, because South Carolina has no minimum wage law of its own. Tipped employees can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash as long as tips bring them up to $7.25.
When do I get my last paycheck in South Carolina?
Within 48 hours of leaving, or on the next regular payday, which can't be more than 30 days away.