South Carolina payroll · Updated November 6, 2026
South Carolina paycheck calculator for 2026
See what comes out of a South Carolina paycheck: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and South Carolina income tax under the state’s 2026 withholding formula. A 2026 law cut the rates on your return, but withholding has not caught up yet. Enter a salary, an hourly rate or one paycheck.
Calculate my take-home payCalculate your South Carolina take-home pay
Take-home pay per paycheck
$1,850.23
$48,106 a year
| Paycheck | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 | -$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 | -$3,720 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 | -$870 |
| South Carolina income tax | -$87.84 | -$2,284 |
| Take-home pay | $1,850.23 | $48,106 |
2026 estimate for one paycheck, using the IRS percentage method and South Carolina’s withholding formula. Your employer's payroll may differ by a few cents to a few dollars. Not tax advice.
What comes out of a South Carolina paycheck
| Deduction | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | Wages after the W-4 standard amount, by filing status |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to $184,500 for 2026 |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | All wages, no cap |
| South Carolina income tax | 0% to 6% withholding rates | Wages minus $5,000 per SC W-4 allowance and a standard deduction of 10% of wages up to $7,500 |
Example: $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks
| Line | Per paycheck | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay ($60,000 ÷ 26) | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 | −$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$143.08 | −$3,720 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$33.46 | −$870 |
| South Carolina income tax | −$87.84 | −$2,284 |
| Take-home pay | $1,850.23 | $48,106 |
How South Carolina withholding works
South Carolina’s 2026 withholding formula, WH-1603F, subtracts $5,000 for each allowance on the SC W-4 and, if you claim at least one, a standard deduction of 10% of wages up to $7,500. Nothing is withheld on the first $3,640 of what is left; then 3%, and 6% above $18,230. With zero allowances there is no standard deduction.
Act 110, signed March 30, 2026, cut the 2026 tax rates to 1.99% and 5.21% and replaced the standard deduction with a new South Carolina deduction, but the Department of Revenue had not published revised withholding tables, so employers still withhold under the formula above. South Carolina unemployment tax is paid by employers.
Minimum wage in South Carolina
South Carolina has no separate state minimum wage, so the federal $7.25 an hour applies.
Your federal withholding and Form W-4
Federal withholding is separate from the state’s and depends on your Form W-4: your filing status, the Step 2 box if you have two jobs or both spouses work, and the Step 3 amount for children and other dependents. Pre-tax 401(k), 403(b) and cafeteria-plan health premiums come out before income tax is figured. If you are paid on a 1099 instead of a W-2, nothing is withheld; use the self-employment tax calculator and plan for estimated payments.
Questions
How much is taken out of a $60,000 paycheck in South Carolina?
For a single person paid every two weeks with no W-4 adjustments, one SC W-4 allowance, about $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $87.84 South Carolina income tax come out of each $2,307.69 paycheck, leaving about $1,850.23.
What is the South Carolina income tax rate for 2026?
Act 110 set 1.99% and 5.21% for 2026. Withholding still uses the older 0%, 3% and 6% formula, because new tables have not been published.
Why is my paycheck different from this calculator?
Payroll systems round differently, and paychecks can include things this calculator leaves out: overtime, bonuses withheld at the flat supplemental rate, after-tax deductions, extra withholding on your W-4, or W-4 Step 4 adjustments.
Owe at tax time, or getting too much back?
We prepare federal returns for clients in every state and can tell you how to set your W-4 so next year comes out closer. We work remotely through a secure portal, by phone or video.
Tax preparation serviceWhere these rules come from
- SCDOR: WH-1603F, 2026 withholding formula (PDF)
- South Carolina Legislature: H.4216 (Act 110 of 2026)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026): Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS Topic 751: Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
Related
- Paycheck calculators for other states
- South Carolina income tax
- What is FICA tax? Rates for 2026 and 2027
- Federal tax brackets for 2026 and 2027
- Self-employment tax calculator
- Illinois paycheck calculator
USTAXX prepares tax returns and offers tax planning. We are not a CPA firm and do not represent clients before the IRS. This page is general information, not tax advice for your situation.