Waiter and Waitress salary in South Carolina
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in South Carolina earns a median of $18,370 a year ($8.83/hour equivalent), 47.9% below the national median of $35,230. South Carolina ranks #49 of 51 states. About 47,200 people do this job in South Carolina.
Take-home pay in South Carolina
At the South Carolina median, a single filer keeps about $16,671 a year after federal, FICA and South Carolina taxes — $641 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the South Carolina paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $706.54
- Federal income tax
- −$8.73
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$43.81
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$10.24
- South Carolina income tax
- −$2.58
- Take-home pay
- $641.18
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $18,370
- Federal
- $227
- FICA
- $1,405
- State + local
- $67
- Net
- $16,671
- Marginal federal rate
- 10.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 2.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How South Carolina compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in South Carolina?
The median salary is $18,370 a year and the average is $25,900 (BLS May 2025).
Is South Carolina a good state for waiters and waitresses?
South Carolina ranks #49 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 48% below the national median of $35,230.
What is $18,370 after taxes in South Carolina?
About $16,671 a year ($641 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.