How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Employee in South Carolina? (2026)
State-specific payroll taxes, workers' comp, and total employer costs in South Carolina.
Hiring a $60,000/year employee in South Carolina costs employers approximately $65,398 total in 2026, including $5,398 in mandatory payroll taxes and workers' comp. That's a 1.09x multiplier on base salary.
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Total Cost at $60K Salary
$65,398
Cost multiplier: 1.09x
SUTA Rate (Mid)
0.54%
Wage base: $14,000
Workers' Comp Rate
1.15%
Has state income tax
Key Insight
For a $60,000 salary in South Carolina, employers pay $5,398 in mandatory taxes — a 1.09x cost multiplier. South Carolina's SUTA rate (0.54%) is below the national average of 1.70%.
Model your specific hire
Use our interactive calculator pre-loaded with South Carolina's tax rates. Adjust salary, benefits, and overhead to get your true cost.
South Carolina Employer Tax Details
State-specific payroll obligations for employers
| SUTA Rate Range | 0.04% – 5.54% |
| SUTA New Employer Rate (typical) | 0.54% |
| SUTA Wage Base | $14,000 |
| Workers' Compensation (avg) | 1.15% of payroll |
| State Income Tax | Yes |
Example Employer Costs in South Carolina
Mandatory employer taxes only (no benefits or overhead)
| Component | $40,000 Salary | $60,000 Salary | $80,000 Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,480 | $3,720 | $4,960 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $580 | $870 | $1,160 |
| FUTA | $42 | $42 | $42 |
| SUTA (SC) | $76 | $76 | $76 |
| Workers' Comp | $460 | $690 | $920 |
| Total Employer Taxes | $3,638 | $5,398 | $7,158 |
| Total Cost (salary + taxes) | $43,638 (1.09x) | $65,398 (1.09x) | $87,158 (1.09x) |
These estimates include mandatory employer payroll taxes only. Add benefits ($7K-$17K) and overhead (~10% of salary) for full cost.
Tax rates sourced from IRS Publication 15, SSA COLA notices, and South Carolina Department of Labor. Social Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500. Medicare is 1.45% with no wage cap. FUTA is 0.6% on the first $7,000 after credit.
How South Carolina Compares
South Carolina's typical SUTA rate of 0.54% is below the national average of ~1.70%.
Workers' compensation at 1.15% of payroll is below the national average of ~1.20%.
South Carolina Employer Environment
Below-average employer costs- State income tax applies — factor into total compensation packages
- Low SUTA rate (0.54% on $14,000 wage base) — below-average unemployment insurance cost
- Workers' comp rate 1.15% — near national average, varies by industry classification
South Carolina's below-average SUTA and competitive workers' comp rates translate to a meaningful cost advantage per employee compared to the national norm, particularly for labor-intensive businesses.
South Carolina Employment Profile
South Carolina offers one of the lowest SUTA typical rates in the country on a $14,000 wage base, making it very attractive for manufacturing and distribution operations.
automotive manufacturing (BMW, Volvo), aerospace (Boeing), logistics & port operations
The Port of Charleston and Inland Port Greer create a large logistics employment base; BMW's Spartanburg plant is the largest BMW manufacturing facility worldwide and anchors a supplier ecosystem.
Cost at Different Salary Levels in South Carolina
Total employer cost including all mandatory payroll taxes
Compare South Carolina With
Employee Costs in Other States
Hiring Cost by Industry in South Carolina
Workers' comp rates vary significantly by industry — restaurant and construction workers cost far more to insure than office staff.
Average Wages by Occupation in South Carolina
BLS OEWS 2024Median annual wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — use these as your baseline salary when estimating total hiring cost.
| Occupation Group | Median Annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Management | $104,420 | 126,830 |
| Architecture and Engineering | $88,700 | 42,130 |
| Computer and Mathematical | $86,810 | 54,010 |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical | $77,920 | 147,700 |
| Business and Financial Operations | $75,490 | 119,780 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science | $67,250 | 16,040 |
| Legal | $62,520 | 16,980 |
| Educational Instruction and Library | $56,840 | 116,050 |
States With Similar Hiring Costs
These states have SUTA rates close to South Carolina's 0.54% — good for cost benchmarking.
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Simplify Payroll in South Carolina
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