South Carolina's income tax tops out at 6%, but here is the catch: that top rate starts at just $17,830 of taxable income, so most full-time workers pay close to 6% on their last dollars.
The 0% and 3% bands below that barely matter once you earn a normal salary, which makes South Carolina feel close to a flat 6% for typical earners. Here is how it works on your paycheck. See your exact take-home with the free South Carolina paycheck calculator.
How South Carolina's income tax works
South Carolina starts from your federal taxable income and applies three brackets: 0% on the first $3,560, 3% up to $17,830, and 6% above that. The top rate was trimmed from 6.2% to 6% for 2025. Because the 6% band starts low, a middle-income worker's marginal rate is 6% on most income. There is no local income tax.
Because South Carolina begins from federal taxable income, your federal standard deduction and pre-tax contributions already reduce the base before the state rate applies.
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $3,560 | 0% |
| $3,560 – $17,830 | 3% |
| Over $17,830 | 6% |
Your take-home on a $65,000 salary in South Carolina
Here is how a $65,000 salary breaks down for a single filer, using 2025 federal and FICA figures alongside South Carolina's graduated rates from 0% to 6%.
| Item | Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $5,246 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | $4,973 |
| South Carolina income tax | $2,358 |
| Take-home pay | $52,424 |
| Percent of gross kept | 80.7% |
On a $65,000 salary a single filer owes about $2,358 in South Carolina income tax, an effective rate near 3.6%, and keeps roughly $52,424, or 80.7% of gross. In fast-growing areas like Greenville, Columbia, and the Charleston coast, that take-home generally goes further than in higher-cost neighboring states. Compare with North Carolina.
A 6% top rate that arrives early
South Carolina's quirk is that its top 6% rate kicks in at under $18,000 of taxable income, so the graduated structure behaves nearly like a flat 6% for full-time workers. The state has been gradually lowering that top rate over recent years.
South Carolina does not tax Social Security and gives a generous retirement-income deduction (larger at 65 and older), so retirees typically pay well below the 6% that applies to wages.
How to keep more of your South Carolina paycheck
Because South Carolina starts from federal taxable income, a traditional 401(k) and HSA reduce your South Carolina and federal taxable income at the same time (and the HSA also skips FICA), the most effective lever on your take-home.