South Carolina · 2026 take-home pay

$26 an hour after taxes in South Carolina

At $26 an hour in South Carolina you keep about $21.33 of every hour — $853 a week, $3,697 a month or $44,363 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 $26 an hour goes

$26 an hour full time in South Carolina, single filer, 2026
A yearA weekAn hour
Gross pay$54,080$1,040$26.00
Federal income tax−$4,310−$83−$2.07
Social Security (6.2%)−$3,353−$64−$1.61
Medicare (1.45%+)−$784−$15−$0.38
South Carolina income tax−$1,270−$24−$0.61
Take-home pay$44,363$853$21.33

Effective tax rate 18% · federal bracket 12% · South Carolina bracket 5.21%.

Take-home per paycheck

40 hours a week, different pay schedules
PaidGrossTake-home
Weekly (52 paychecks)$1,040.00$853.14
Every two weeks (26)$2,080.00$1,706.27
Twice a month (24)$2,253.33$1,848.46
Monthly (12)$4,506.67$3,696.93

Change hours, overtime and deductions

$26 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 $26 an hour for hours over 40, as federal law requires for most hourly workers.

$26 an hour in South Carolina: weekly hours and take-home, 2026
ScheduleGross a weekTake-home a weekTake-home a year
20 hours a week*$520$455$23,638
30 hours a week$780$659$34,258
40 hours a week$1,040$853$44,363
40 hours + 5 overtime$1,235$997$51,838
40 hours + 10 overtime$1,430$1,126$58,527

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

Is $26 an hour good pay in South Carolina?

  • Minimum wage: $26 an hour is 3.6 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 58th percentile of hourly pay in South Carolina (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 58 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 $44,363 a year buys about what $47,321 would at national-average prices.
  • Rent: the 30% rule points to about $1,352 a month. Check it with your debts.
  • A 50/30/20 budget: about $1,848 a month for needs, $1,109 for wants and $739 for savings. Plan it in the budget calculator.

Jobs in South Carolina that pay about $26 an hour

Occupations whose median wage in South Carolina is within 4% of $26 an hour, most common first. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

How South Carolina compares on $26 an hour

South Carolina ranks 14th of 51 for take-home pay on $26 an hour (1st = keeps the most). Here it is next to its neighbors.

Take-home on $26 an hour, 40 hours a week, single filer, 2026
StateAfter tax, per hourA yearMinimum wagevs South Carolina
South Carolina$21.33$44,363$7.25—
Georgia$21.00$43,683$7.25−$680 a year
North Carolina$21.15$43,984$7.25−$379 a year

How the federal tax on $54,080 ($26 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $54,080 minus the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100) = $37,980. 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%$25,580$3,070
Total$37,980$4,310

How the South Carolina income tax on $54,080 ($26 an hour) is worked out

Taxable income is $54,080 of South Carolina wages minus $11,160 standard deduction = $42,920.

South Carolina income tax by bracket, single filer, 2026 rules
RateIncome in this bracketTax
1.99%$30,000$597
5.21%$12,920$673
Total$42,920$1,270

Common questions

How much is $26 an hour after taxes in South Carolina?

About $21.33 for every hour you work, or $44,363 a year at 40 hours a week ($54,080 gross). Taxes take about 18% of your pay, for a single filer in 2026 with no pre-tax deductions.

How much is $26 an hour a week after taxes in South Carolina?

About $853 a week at 40 hours, from $1,040 gross. Paid every two weeks, each paycheck is about $1,706.

How much is $26 an hour a month after taxes in South Carolina?

About $3,697 a month at 40 hours a week, from $4,507 gross.

Is $26 an hour good pay in South Carolina?

$26 an hour is 3.6 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 58th percentile of hourly pay in South Carolina (BLS, May 2025) — roughly 58 in 100 workers earn less. The median hourly wage for all jobs in South Carolina is $22.35. After taxes and local prices, $44,363 a year buys about what $47,321 would at national-average prices.

Is South Carolina a high-tax state for $26 an hour?

It ranks 14th of 51 among the 50 states and D.C. for take-home on $26 an hour. The most you'd keep is $45,633 a year, in 8 places including Florida, North Dakota, New Hampshire; the least, $41,736 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.