Estimate your South Carolina take-home pay per paycheck. Enter salary or hourly pay, filing status and dependents to see federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and South Carolina's 0%, 3% and 6% brackets worked out step by step.
Last updated:
Gross pay
How are you paid?
$
$
h
h
Paid at 1.5× your rate
South Carolina uses the same brackets for every status; filing status changes the federal deduction
Federal (2026 Form W-4)
$
$2,200 per child under 17, $500 per other dependent
$
South Carolina (SC W-4)
Children and other qualifying dependents
Get an extra deduction of the same amount
$
2025 amount, indexed yearly
%
6.0% for 2025; edit if the legislature changes it
Deductions
% of gross
Capped at the 2026 limit of $24,500
$
Section 125 deductions
$
Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the South Carolina Paycheck Calculator
Enter your pay: annual salary, or hourly rate and weekly hours with any overtime.
Pick pay frequency and filing status; status sets the federal standard deduction that South Carolina also uses.
Enter dependents and how many are under 6 for the South Carolina deductions.
Add your 401(k) %, health premiums and any extra W-4 withholding.
Press Calculate take-home pay to see South Carolina tax bracket by bracket.
South Carolina paycheck formula
Federal taxable income = wages − traditional 401(k) − section 125 deductions − federal standard deduction
SC taxable income = federal taxable income − dependent exemption × (dependents + children under 6)
SC tax = 0% on the first $3,560 + 3% from $3,560 to $17,830 + 6.0% above $17,830
Take-home = gross − pre-tax deductions − federal tax − Social Security − Medicare − SC tax − after-tax deductions
Example: a single filer earning $55,000 with no dependents and no pre-tax deductions has federal taxable income of $55,000 − $16,100 = $38,900. South Carolina tax = $0 on the first $3,560 + 3% × $14,270 ($428.10) + 6.0% × $21,070 ($1,264.20) = $1,692.30 a year, about $65.09 per biweekly check.
South Carolina tax brackets (2025)
Rate
SC taxable income (all filing statuses)
Tax on the bracket
0%
$0 – $3,560
$0
3%
$3,560 – $17,830
Up to $428.10
6.0%
Over $17,830
$428.10 + 6.0% of the excess
Shortcut for SC taxable income above $17,830: tax = 6.0% × income − $641.70.
South Carolina tax on common salaries
Wages (single, no dependents)
Federal taxable income
SC tax per year
Per biweekly check
Effective SC rate
$30,000
$13,900
$310.20
$11.93
1.03%
$45,000
$28,900
$1,092.30
$42.01
2.43%
$55,000
$38,900
$1,692.30
$65.09
3.08%
$75,000
$58,900
$2,892.30
$111.24
3.86%
$100,000
$83,900
$4,392.30
$168.93
4.39%
$150,000
$133,900
$7,392.30
$284.32
4.93%
Uses the 2026 federal standard deduction ($16,100 single) and no pre-tax deductions. Because the 0% bracket and the federal deduction shelter the first part of income, South Carolina's effective rate stays well below the top rate. Check the South Carolina Department of Revenue for the latest brackets and withholding tables.
Frequently asked questions
What are the South Carolina income tax brackets?
For 2025, South Carolina taxes the first $3,560 of taxable income at 0%, income from $3,560 to $17,830 at 3%, and income above $17,830 at the top rate, which was lowered to 6.0% for 2025. The same brackets apply to every filing status. The state has been cutting the top rate step by step, so the calculator lets you edit it.
How does South Carolina calculate taxable income?
South Carolina starts with your federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction (or itemized deductions) carries over. It then subtracts a dependent exemption for each dependent and an additional deduction for each child under 6, plus other state adjustments such as retirement income deductions.
Do South Carolina cities or counties have a local income tax?
No. Columbia, Charleston, Greenville and other South Carolina localities do not tax wages, so your paycheck shows only federal, FICA and state withholding.
Do 401(k) contributions lower South Carolina tax?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) deferrals and section 125 health premiums are excluded from federal taxable income, which is South Carolina's starting point. Roth contributions do not reduce taxable pay.
Which form sets South Carolina withholding?
South Carolina uses its own SC W-4 for state withholding. You list dependents and can ask for extra withholding. Federal withholding still follows the IRS Form W-4.
I live in South Carolina and work in North Carolina or Georgia. Which state taxes me?
South Carolina has no reciprocity agreements, so the state where you work withholds its tax. As a South Carolina resident you report all income on your SC return and claim a credit for the tax paid to the other state.
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Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.