South Carolina · 2026 take-home pay

$17 an hour after taxes in South Carolina

At $17 an hour in South Carolina you keep about $14.51 of every hour — $581 a week, $2,516 a month or $30,187 a year full time — after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and South Carolina income tax. South Carolina has a graduated income tax, and its minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

By Work & Money Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 14, 2026

Where $17 an hour goes

$17 an hour full time in South Carolina, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$35,360$680$17.00
Federal income tax−$2,063−$40−$0.99
Social Security (6.2%)−$2,192−$42−$1.05
Medicare (1.45%+)−$513−$10−$0.25
South Carolina income tax−$405−$8−$0.19
Take-home pay$30,187$581$14.51

Effective tax rate 14.6% · federal bracket 12% · South Carolina bracket 1.99%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$680.00$580.51
Every two weeks (26)$1,360.00$1,161.02
Twice a month (24)$1,473.33$1,257.77
Monthly (12)$2,946.67$2,515.55

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$17 an hour at different hours

Take-home in South Carolina for part-time, full-time and overtime weeks. Overtime is paid at 1.5 times $17 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$17 an hour in South Carolina: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$340$310$16,116
30 hours a week$510$447$23,220
40 hours a week$680$581$30,187
40 hours + 5 overtime$808$680$35,371
40 hours + 10 overtime$935$776$40,338

*If this is your only job. With a second job, withholding on each is likely too low unless you adjust your W-4.

Is $17 an hour good pay in South Carolina?

  • Minimum wage: $17 an hour is 2.3 times the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which applies in South Carolina. South Carolina has no state minimum wage law.
  • Among South Carolina workers: It's about the 27th percentile of hourly pay in South Carolina (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 27 in 100 workers earn less. The median is $22.35 an hour.
  • Local prices: South Carolina's price level is 93.7% of the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities), so $30,187 a year buys about what $32,199 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $884 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,258 a month for needs, $755 for wants and $503 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in South Carolina that pay about $17 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in South Carolina is within 4% of $17 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How South Carolina compares on $17 an hour

South Carolina ranks 10th of 51 for take-home pay on $17 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $17 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs South Carolina
South Carolina$14.51$30,187$7.25—
Georgia$14.22$29,576$7.25−$611 a year
North Carolina$14.27$29,690$7.25−$497 a year

How the federal tax on $35,360 ($17 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $35,360 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $19,260. Each slice is taxed at its own rate:

2026 federal income tax by bracket, single filer
RateIncome in this bracketTax
10%$12,400$1,240
12%$6,860$823
Total$19,260$2,063

How the South Carolina income tax on $35,360 ($17 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $35,360 of South Carolina wages minus $15,000 standard deduction = $20,360.

South Carolina income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
1.99%$20,360$405
Total$20,360$405

Common questions

How much is $17 an hour after taxes in South Carolina?

About $14.51 for every hour you work, or $30,187 a year at 40 hours a week ($35,360 gross). Taxes take about 14.6% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $17 an hour a week after taxes in South Carolina?

About $581 a week at 40 hours, from $680 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,161.

How much is $17 an hour a month after taxes in South Carolina?

About $2,516 a month at 40 hours a week, from $2,947 gross.

Is $17 an hour good pay in South Carolina?

$17 an hour is 2.3 times the federal minimum wage of $7.25, which applies in South Carolina. South Carolina has no state minimum wage law. It's about the 27th percentile of hourly pay in South Carolina (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 27 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in South Carolina is $22.35. After taxes and local prices, $30,187 a year buys about what $32,199 would at national-average prices.

Is South Carolina a high-tax state for $17 an hour?

It ranks 10th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $17 an hour. The most you'd keep is $30,592 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $28,267 in Oregon.

Sources and method

Our 2026 engine applies IRS Publication 15-T withholding, Social Security and Medicare, South Carolina's income tax rules (methodology). Local income taxes are not included. Minimum wages: U.S. Department of Labor. Wage distribution and jobs: BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities.

  1. Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Internal Revenue Service. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  2. State Minimum Wage Laws — U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  3. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 14, 2026.
  4. Regional Price Parities by State — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Accessed October 14, 2026.