Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks actually take home in South Carolina?
Progressive (up to 6.4%) — 20.9% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks earning $52,240 in South Carolina (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $52,240 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$4,284 | 8.2% |
| South Carolina State Income Tax | -$2,650 | 5.1% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,238 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$757 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$10,931 | 20.9% |
| Take-Home Pay | $41,308 | 79.1% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $38,180 | -$7,268 | $30,911 | 19.0% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $45,500 | -$9,175 | $36,324 | 20.2% |
| Median (P50) | $52,240 | -$10,931 | $41,308 | 20.9% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,400 | -$13,643 | $48,756 | 21.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $77,660 | -$19,144 | $58,515 | 24.7% |
After federal income tax ($4,284), state tax ($2,650), and FICA ($3,996), a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina takes home $41,308 per year — or $3,442 per month. The effective tax rate of 20.9% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 20.9%, a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina keeps $41,308 of $52,240 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
South Carolina uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary the state tax works out to $2,650 (5.1% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary is $4,285 (39%), but combined state ($2,650, 24%) + FICA ($3,996, 37%) make up the other 61% of the bill.
Moving this same Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $43,959 net — a gain of $2,650 (6.4%) per year versus South Carolina.
South Carolina sits near the bottom (#42 of 51) for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $41,308 net/year works out to $3,442/month or $1,589/bi-weekly for this Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Carolina ranks #42 out of 51 states for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks after-tax take-home pay.
A Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina earning a median salary of $52,240 will take home approximately $41,308 per year after federal income tax ($4,284), state income tax ($2,650), and FICA ($3,996). That is $3,442 per month or $1,588 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina is 20.9%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.2%, South Carolina state tax 5.1%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
South Carolina has a progressive (up to 6.4%). On a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks's median salary of $52,240, the state income tax amounts to $2,650 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.1%.
After all taxes, a Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina takes home approximately $3,442 per month, or about $19.86 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $52,240 for Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks in South Carolina, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), South Carolina state income tax (progressive (up to 6.4%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $41,308/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR