South Carolina Paycheck Calculator 2026 — 6% Top State Rate (Federal + FICA + State)

How much do I take home in South Carolina? — short answer first

South Carolina runs a 3-bracket progressive structure (0% / 3% / 6.0%) — but the bracket boundaries are unusually low: the top 6.0% bracket (2026 projected) kicks in at just $17,330 of taxable income for all filing statuses. Effectively, most working adults pay close to the flat 6.0% rate. South Carolina has been phasing the top rate down under Act 87 (2022): 7% in 2022 → 6.4% in 2024 → 6.2% in 2025 → 6.0% projected 2026 → target ~5.0% by 2027. The phase-down depends on revenue triggers. Standard deduction conforms to federal ($14,600 single / $29,200 joint). South Carolina has no local income tax.

How South Carolina taxes payroll in 2026

South Carolina levies a 3-bracket progressive individual income tax under §12-6-510 SC Code. Bracket thresholds are identical for all filing statuses — SC does not differentiate single, joint, or HOH. The 2024 schedule was 0% on the first $3,460 of taxable income; 3% on $3,461-$17,330; and 6.4% above $17,330. Under Act 87 (2022), the top rate phases down each year that state revenue meets growth triggers: 6.2% in 2025, 6.0% projected for 2026, with a target of ~5.0% by 2027. Each annual reduction is conditional — revenue underperformance pauses the schedule. The 0% bottom bracket effectively boosts SC's standard deduction equivalent for lower-income filers — a single filer with $20K of taxable income pays only on the portion above $3,460, dramatically reducing effective rate. Standard deduction conforms to federal ($14,600 single / $29,200 joint, with annual indexing) — this is one of the cleanest tax structures of any Southeastern state. South Carolina has no local income tax — Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Hilton Head all fund services through property tax (effective rate ~0.55% — well below national average) and 6% state sales tax + up to 3% local (Charleston ~8%; Hilton Head ~9%). SC offers a retirement-income deduction of up to $15,000 for filers age 65+ (per filer) and full exemption for Social Security. Combined, SC is moderately retirement-friendly and has been a leading destination for retirees relocating from the Northeast.

South Carolina state income tax brackets (single filer, 2026)

Standard deduction (single): $14,600 · top marginal rate 6.00%. Married filing jointly + head of household brackets follow the same shape with adjusted thresholds.

South Carolina city callouts

• Charleston — Property tax ~0.50% effective; combined sales tax 9% (highest in SC); historic tourism + Boeing manufacturing + growing tech hub.
• Columbia — Property tax ~0.65% effective; combined sales tax 8%; state capital + USC anchor a steady professional/government economy.
• Greenville + Spartanburg (Upstate) — Property tax ~0.45% effective; combined sales tax 6-7%; BMW + Michelin + auto-supplier manufacturing hub.

How to use this calculator

1. Enter your annual gross salary. Pre-tax, what your employer pays before any deductions.
2. Pick filing status. Single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, or head of household. Drives both federal and South Carolina brackets.
3. Add 401(k) and HSA contributions (optional). Both lower your federal taxable income; HSA also lowers FICA wages.
4. Read the verdict. Annual + monthly + bi-weekly take-home, federal + state + local breakdown, and effective tax rate.

Common mistakes

• Confusing gross with adjusted gross. The calculator wants your gross salary — what your employer pays before any pre-tax deductions or contributions. If you enter your W-2 Box 1 (already net of 401k), the math will under-count your tax.
• Forgetting that 401(k) is still subject to FICA. Traditional 401(k) reduces federal income tax but NOT Social Security + Medicare. Only HSA (through payroll) reduces both.
• Using the wrong filing status for state tax. South Carolina uses the same filing status categories as the IRS, but bracket thresholds differ from federal. Pick the status that matches your actual tax filing — not just what gives the best number.
• Ignoring multi-state implications. If you work in South Carolina but live elsewhere (or vice versa), you may owe taxes in both states with a credit between them. This calculator assumes you both live and work in South Carolina.

Methodology & Sources

Federal income tax + FICA: IRS Pub 15-T 2026 projected brackets + Social Security Administration 2026 wage base ($181,000) + Medicare 1.45% (no cap) + Additional Medicare 0.9% above $200K/$250K thresholds. South Carolina state income tax: South Carolina Department of Revenue — phase-down progressive (2026 projected) — last verified 2026-05-13. Brackets refresh annually — most state DORs publish updates in Q4 preceding the tax year. Federal 2026 figures are projected from 2025 (Rev. Proc. 2024-40) with ~2.5% inflation adjustment; refresh against IRS October release.

Frequently asked questions

Want to compare South Carolina take-home pay against another state? Use the national take-home pay calculator with a flat-rate state input. To see what you'd save by changing your 401(k) contribution, drop the gross salary into the salary-to-hourly calculator. For cost-of-living adjustments when comparing jobs across states, the cost of living calculator adjusts for housing + groceries + tax differences between metros.