Working full time at $24 an hour ($49,920 a year) in South Carolina, a single filer takes home about $40,453 a year, $3,371 a month or $19.45 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,838 South Carolina income tax.
#37 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $49,920 | $4,160 |
| Federal income tax | $3,810 | $318 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,095 | $258 |
| Medicare | $724 | $60 |
| South Carolina income tax | $1,838 | $153 |
| Take-home | $40,453 | $3,371 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| South Carolina marginal rate | 6.00% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Indiana. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $33,820 (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 $16,580 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 7.6%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 19.0% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $744 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0β$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400β$50,400 | $21,420 | $2,570 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 25.7% |
| Effective (average) | 7.6% | 19.0% |
Compared with the South Carolina median
$49,920 is 72% of the South Carolina median household income of $69,324 (Census ACS 2020β2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $1,248/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $180,000 |
| South Carolina median home value | $259,000 (Census 2020β2024) |
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) ($2,995/yr) | $2,995 | $2,456 | $539 |
| Max 401(k) ($24,500) | $24,500 | $20,186 | $4,314 |
| 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.
South Carolina jobs that typically pay about $49,920
$49,920 is above the median pay of 54 of the 100 common occupations we track in South Carolina (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a South Carolina median between $48,880 and $50,960:
| Occupation | South Carolina median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $48,940 | β$980 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $49,980 | +$60 |
| Carpenters | $50,670 | +$750 |
Where $49,920 lands inside other South Carolina jobs
For 3 of these occupations, $49,920 is what experienced or top earners make (75thβ90th percentile); for 7, it is entry-level pay (10thβ25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | South Carolina pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 75th | $49,300 |
| Billing and Posting Clerks | 75th | $49,650 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 10th | $49,720 |
| Preschool Teachers | 90th | $49,900 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 25th | $49,930 |
| Elementary School Teachers | 25th | $50,280 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | 25th | $50,290 |
| Accountants and Auditors | 10th | $50,370 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 10th | $50,370 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers | 25th | $50,510 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $22 an hour in South Carolina$3,113/mo
- $23 an hour in South Carolina$3,242/mo
- $25 an hour in South Carolina$3,500/mo
- $26 an hour in South Carolina$3,629/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 $24 an hour after taxes in South Carolina?
Working full time at $24 an hour ($49,920 a year) in South Carolina, a single filer takes home about $40,453 a year, $3,371 a month or $19.45 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,838 South Carolina income tax.
How much is $24 an hour per month after taxes in South Carolina?
About $3,371 a month, or $1,556 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $24 an hour in South Carolina?
About $1,838 a year (marginal rate 6.00%).