Working full time at $17 an hour ($35,360 a year) in South Carolina, a single filer takes home about $29,627 a year, $2,469 a month or $14.24 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $964 South Carolina income tax.
#32 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $35,360 | $2,947 |
| Federal income tax | $2,063 | $172 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,192 | $183 |
| Medicare | $513 | $43 |
| South Carolina income tax | $964 | $80 |
| Take-home | $29,627 | $2,469 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| South Carolina marginal rate | 6.00% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Wisconsin. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $19,260 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 12% bracket ($12,400 to $50,400). You have about $31,140 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 5.8%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 16.2% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $744 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400–$50,400 | $6,860 | $823 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 25.7% |
| Effective (average) | 5.8% | 16.2% |
Compared with the South Carolina median
$35,360 is 51% of the South Carolina median household income of $69,324 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $884/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $128,000 |
| South Carolina median home value | $259,000 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the South Carolina median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($2,122/yr) | $2,122 | $1,740 | $382 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,271 | $1,129 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and South Carolina income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
South Carolina jobs that typically pay about $35,360
$35,360 is above the median pay of 22 of the 100 common occupations we track in South Carolina (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a South Carolina median between $34,320 and $36,400:
| Occupation | South Carolina median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool Teachers | $34,500 | −$860 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,960 | −$400 |
| Security Guards | $35,460 | +$100 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $35,510 | +$150 |
| Restaurant Cooks | $35,740 | +$380 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,020 | +$660 |
Where $35,360 lands inside other South Carolina jobs
For 2 of these occupations, $35,360 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 8, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | South Carolina pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Representatives | 25th | $34,940 |
| Nursing Assistants | 25th | $34,960 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | 10th | $35,010 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | 10th | $35,010 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 90th | $35,020 |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 10th | $35,140 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | 10th | $35,490 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 10th | $35,500 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 90th | $35,590 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 10th | $35,780 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $15 an hour in South Carolina$2,211/mo
- $16 an hour in South Carolina$2,340/mo
- $18 an hour in South Carolina$2,598/mo
- $19 an hour in South Carolina$2,727/mo
- South Carolina income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in South Carolina2026
- South Carolina property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $17 an hour after taxes in South Carolina?
Working full time at $17 an hour ($35,360 a year) in South Carolina, a single filer takes home about $29,627 a year, $2,469 a month or $14.24 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $964 South Carolina income tax.
How much is $17 an hour per month after taxes in South Carolina?
About $2,469 a month, or $1,140 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $17 an hour in South Carolina?
About $964 a year (marginal rate 6.00%).