Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Waiters and Waitresses actually take home in South Carolina?
Progressive (up to 6.4%) — 12.3% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Waiters and Waitresses earning $18,370 in South Carolina (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $18,370 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$377 | 2.1% |
| South Carolina State Income Tax | -$482 | 2.6% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,138 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$266 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$2,264 | 12.3% |
| Take-Home Pay | $16,105 | 87.7% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Waiters and Waitresses in South Carolina.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $15,080 | -$1,550 | $13,529 | 10.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $16,980 | -$1,942 | $15,037 | 11.4% |
| Median (P50) | $18,370 | -$2,264 | $16,105 | 12.3% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $29,910 | -$5,114 | $24,795 | 17.1% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $46,820 | -$9,519 | $37,300 | 20.3% |
After federal income tax ($377), state tax ($482), and FICA ($1,405), a Waiters and Waitresses in South Carolina takes home $16,105 per year — or $1,342 per month. The effective tax rate of 12.3% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Waiters and Waitresses in South Carolina faces an effective total tax rate of only 12.3%, keeping 87.7% of every gross dollar. That leaves $16,105 net out of $18,370 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
South Carolina uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Waiters and Waitresses salary the state tax works out to $483 (2.6% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Waiters and Waitresses salary is $377 (17%), but combined state ($483, 21%) + FICA ($1,405, 62%) make up the other 83% of the bill.
A Waiters and Waitresses earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $16,588 — only $483 (3.0%) more than in South Carolina.
South Carolina sits near the bottom (#48 of 51) for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $16,105 net/year works out to $1,342/month or $619/bi-weekly for this Waiters and Waitresses in South Carolina — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Waiters and Waitresses keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Carolina ranks #48 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax take-home pay.
A Waiters and Waitresses in South Carolina earning a median salary of $18,370 will take home approximately $16,105 per year after federal income tax ($377), state income tax ($482), and FICA ($1,405). That is $1,342 per month or $619 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Waiters and Waitresses in South Carolina is 12.3%, broken down as: federal income tax 2.1%, South Carolina state tax 2.6%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
South Carolina has a progressive (up to 6.4%). On a Waiters and Waitresses's median salary of $18,370, the state income tax amounts to $482 per year, which is an effective state rate of 2.6%.
After all taxes, a Waiters and Waitresses in South Carolina takes home approximately $1,342 per month, or about $7.74 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 $18,370 for Waiters and Waitresses 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 — $16,105/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