Where your South Carolina paycheck goes
Annual take-home versus federal, state, and FICA taxes.
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South Carolina Paycheck Calculator
Enter your salary to estimate your South Carolina take-home pay after federal income tax, South Carolina state income tax, and FICA, broken down per paycheck for any pay schedule.
Take-home per paycheck
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Gross annual pay—
Federal income tax—
South Carolina state income tax—
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)—
Net annual take-home—
Same salary, different states
Estimated 2026 take-home on an $80,000 single salary, before local taxes. South Carolina is highlighted.
How South Carolina taxes your paycheck
South Carolina has a progressive income tax with 2 brackets, from 3% to 6%, after a standard deduction of $8,350 for single filers and $16,700 for married couples filing jointly. That is on top of federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 of wages in 2026) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000), which are the same in every state.
South Carolina income tax brackets for 2026
| Rate | Single (taxable income) | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 – $3,640 | $0 – $3,640 |
| 3% | $3,640 – $18,230 | $3,640 – $18,230 |
| 6% | over $18,230 | over $18,230 |
Local taxes: South Carolina has no local income taxes.
Worked example
A single filer in South Carolina earning $80,000 a year, paid every two weeks with no pre-tax deductions: federal income tax is $8,770, South Carolina income tax is $3,643 and FICA is $6,120, leaving $61,467 a year, or about $2,364 per paycheck. A married couple filing jointly on $120,000 keeps about $95,238 a year. Putting $5,000 into a traditional 401(k) would cut this single filer's federal tax to $7,670 and South Carolina tax to $3,343.
South Carolina take-home pay at different salaries (single, 2026)
| Salary | Federal tax | South Carolina tax | FICA | Take-home | Per bi-weekly check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $1,243 | $3,060 | $33,077 | $1,272 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $2,443 | $4,590 | $47,947 | $1,844 |
| $80,000 | $8,770 | $3,643 | $6,120 | $61,467 | $2,364 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $4,843 | $7,650 | $74,337 | $2,859 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $7,843 | $11,475 | $105,948 | $4,075 |
How South Carolina compares
On an $80,000 single salary, South Carolina take-home is about $61,467, $3,643 less than in Texas, which has no income tax, and $448 less than in California. The chart above shows South Carolina next to Texas, California and New York on identical pay.
What this estimate includes
taxable income = salary − pre-tax deductions − standard deduction
federal tax = 2026 federal brackets (standard deduction $16,100 single / $32,200 married)
South Carolina tax = 2026 South Carolina brackets on state taxable income
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% over $200,000)
per paycheck = (salary − all taxes − pre-tax deductions) ÷ pay periods
federal tax = 2026 federal brackets (standard deduction $16,100 single / $32,200 married)
South Carolina tax = 2026 South Carolina brackets on state taxable income
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% over $200,000)
per paycheck = (salary − all taxes − pre-tax deductions) ÷ pay periods
South Carolina starts from federal taxable income, so the federal standard deduction applies, and the first $3,640 of taxable income is taxed at 0%. Local taxes and state payroll programs mentioned above are not included, and your actual withholding also depends on your W-4 and any state withholding certificate. State figures are the 2026 rates and brackets published by South Carolina, as compiled by the Tax Foundation.
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of an $80,000 paycheck in South Carolina?
For a single filer in 2026, about $18,533 a year: $8,770 federal income tax, $3,643 South Carolina income tax and $6,120 FICA, leaving $61,467, or $2,364 every two weeks. Local taxes are extra.
What is the South Carolina income tax rate in 2026?
South Carolina has a progressive income tax with 2 brackets, from 3% to 6%, after a standard deduction of $8,350 for single filers and $16,700 for married couples filing jointly.
Are there local income taxes in South Carolina?
South Carolina has no local income taxes.
Is take-home pay higher in South Carolina or Texas?
Texas. With no state income tax, a single filer on $80,000 keeps about $65,110 in Texas against $61,467 in South Carolina, a difference of $3,643 a year.
How can I lower the tax on my South Carolina paycheck?
Pre-tax contributions to a 401(k), HSA or FSA lower federal and South Carolina taxable income. On $80,000, a $5,000 traditional 401(k) contribution cuts federal tax to $7,670 and South Carolina tax to $3,343.
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