$11 an Hour in South Carolina — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)
At $11/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $22,880. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and South Carolina state income tax, your take-home pay is $9.62/hr. In South Carolina's low cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in South Carolina.
Pay Period Breakdown
Full Tax Breakdown — South Carolina, Single Filer
How Does South Carolina Compare?
See how $11/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:
Equivalent Annual Salary Pages
$11/hr = $22,880/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:
Adjacent Rates in South Carolina
Same Rate, Other States
Cost of Living in South Carolina
- Avg 1BR rent in Charleston: $1,050/mo — over the 30% rule (55% of gross monthly)
- Minimum comfortable income in South Carolina: $36,000/yr
- Your net annual: $20,018 ($15,982 below comfortable threshold)
- Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$12.8/hr
Working at $11/hr in South Carolina
South Carolina's manufacturing boom means entry-level wages at BMW or Boeing suppliers are often well above minimum. Columbia and Greenville offer affordable living relative to coastal metros. The 6.4% flat tax is moderate.
At ${rate}/hr, you work roughly 110 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Charleston (${rent.toLocaleString()}/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 1.5x South Carolina's federal minimum wage of ${ctx.minWage}/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at ${rate}/hr in South Carolina is 12.5% -- federal income tax accounts for 3.0%, FICA 7.6%, and South Carolina state tax 1.9%.
South Carolina has attracted significant manufacturing investment — BMW, Volvo, Boeing, and Mercedes-Benz Vans all have major facilities here. Charleston's port is growing rapidly. The state also has significant tourism and healthcare sectors.
South Carolina has a flat 6.4% income tax rate (reduced from a graduated system). The state mirrors the federal standard deduction.
South Carolina follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr.
Monthly Budget on $11/hr in South Carolina
Based on $1,668/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for South Carolina's cost of living.
⚠ This budget is underwater — rent alone exceeds the 30% guideline in South Carolina at $11/hr. Consider roommates, lower-cost areas, or targeting a higher wage to reach balance.
Overtime Pay — $11/hr in South Carolina
At time-and-a-half ($16.50/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in South Carolina. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~17.8%.
Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $11/hr
How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $9.62 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.
Frequently Asked Questions
11 an hour -- is it a good wage in South Carolina?
11/hr in South Carolina gives you $20,018/year after taxes -- below what's needed for comfortable living in South Carolina. Avg 1BR rent in Charleston: $1,050/month (exceeds the 30% rule).
What is 11 an hour after taxes in South Carolina?
11/hr in South Carolina = $20,018/year or $1,668/month net. Effective rate: 12.5%.
How does 11/hr go further -- South Carolina or Texas?
11/hr in South Carolina has similar purchasing power to ~12.8/hr in Texas.
What does 11/hr look like as a monthly budget in South Carolina?
On $1,668/month in South Carolina: rent $1,050, food $200, transport $167, savings $167, surplus ~$0.
How much does overtime add at 11/hr in South Carolina?
At 1.5x (16.50/hr OT), 5 extra hrs/week adds ~$3,400/year net; 10 hrs/week adds ~$6,800/year.