# South Carolina paycheck calculator (2026)

South Carolina W-2 employees checking temporary top-rate rules and a mid-year 2026 rate note.

South Carolina uses graduated brackets with a 6.0% top rate that the Tax Foundation flags as temporary through June 30, 2026. A standard deduction and a personal exemption deduction are encoded. Charleston and Upstate W-2 employees comparing South Carolina to North Carolina or Georgia should read that mid-year rate note. Local income taxes are omitted. Federal math is tax year 2026. This is an estimate, not Form SC1040. If your employer updates withholding in July, your second-half stub can differ from this annualized sketch. Who it is for: South Carolina W-2 employees who need the temporary top-rate note in view.

This is a W-2 style withholding approximation, not a full South Carolina Form resident return. We annualize your pay, subtract pretax 401(k) and section 125 health premiums from federal wages (health premiums also reduce FICA wages), apply the 2026 IRS standard deduction, then apply South Carolina’s published rate structure. We do not model local city or county income taxes, itemized deductions, or most credits.

Use the calculator to compare pay frequencies (hourly through annual), pretax 401(k) as a percent or a dollar amount per paycheck, and optional extra federal withholding. Last reviewed against IRS, SSA, and Tax Foundation 2026 publications on August 24, 2026.

Data note: South Carolina 6.0% top rate is temporary through June 30, 2026. Treat the South Carolina line as an estimate and confirm current withholding tables with your employer or the state department of revenue.

## Tax model notes

- Kind: progressive
- (none)


Data note: South Carolina 6.0% top rate is temporary through June 30, 2026.

## Sample estimate ($80,000 single, no 401(k))

- Gross: $80,000.00
- Federal income tax: $8,770.00
- Social Security: $4,960.00
- Medicare: $1,160.00
- State income tax: $3,642.90
- Net / take-home: $61,467.10 (effective tax 23.2%)
- Per paycheck net: $61,467.10 (1 periods)

Label: engine estimate, not a pay stub.

## FAQ

### Does South Carolina have a state income tax on wages?

Yes. South Carolina has a graduated state income tax with a top rate of 6% on taxable wage income in 2026. Local income taxes, if any, are not included in this estimate.

### What South Carolina income tax rate does this calculator use for 2026?

The official graduated brackets published for 2026 (Tax Foundation compilation of state statutes), with a top marginal rate of 6%. South Carolina 6.0% top rate is temporary through June 30, 2026.

### Is this my actual take-home pay?

No. It is an estimate of typical W-2 withholding. It omits local taxes (except a note on New York City), most credits (including the federal Child Tax Credit), unemployment insurance, wage-garnishment, and employer-specific benefits. Use it to plan, not to file.

### Does a 401(k) contribution reduce Social Security tax?

Usually no. Traditional 401(k) deferrals reduce federal (and often state) taxable wages, but they remain subject to Social Security and Medicare. Pre-tax health insurance premiums under a cafeteria plan generally reduce FICA wages as well.

## Related

- [North Carolina](https://takehomecash.com/north-carolina-paycheck-calculator/index.md)
- [Georgia](https://takehomecash.com/georgia-paycheck-calculator/index.md)
- [Tennessee](https://takehomecash.com/tennessee-paycheck-calculator/index.md)
- [Florida](https://takehomecash.com/florida-paycheck-calculator/index.md)