Arizona vs South Carolina Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $1,184 more a year in Arizona than in South Carolina ($99 a month).
Arizona
2.5% flat state income tax
$60,119
take-home on $75,000 · $5,010/month
12th of 51 states for take-home pay
Arizona paycheck calculator ›South Carolina
1.99% - 5.21% state income tax
$58,935
take-home on $75,000 · $4,911/month
29th of 51 states for take-home pay
South Carolina paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in Arizona and South Carolina by salary
| Salary | Arizona | South Carolina | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,722 | $33,822 | $100 more in South Carolina |
| $50,000 | $41,507 | $41,356 | $151 more in Arizona |
| $60,000 | $49,292 | $48,728 | $564 more in Arizona |
| $75,000 | $60,119 | $58,935 | $1,184 more in Arizona |
| $100,000 | $77,082 | $74,936 | $2,146 more in Arizona |
| $125,000 | $93,980 | $91,156 | $2,824 more in Arizona |
| $150,000 | $110,443 | $106,942 | $3,501 more in Arizona |
| $200,000 | $144,329 | $139,473 | $4,856 more in Arizona |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in Arizona you would need about $76,850 in South Carolina; to match $75,000 in South Carolina you would need about $73,250 in Arizona.
How Arizona and South Carolina tax wages
| 2026 | Arizona | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | a flat 2.5% income tax | 2 brackets from 1.99% to 5.21% |
| Top rate | 2.5% | 5.21% |
| Standard deduction | $16,100 single | $15,000 single |
| State tax on $75k | $1,473 (2.0%) | $2,657 (3.5%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | No |
| Reciprocity | None | None |
| 2026 change | No rate change | South Carolina rebuilt its income tax for 2026 (H.4216): rates of 1.99% and 5.21%, a starting point of federal AGI, and a new income adjusted deduction of up to $15,000 that phases out as income rises. |
Moving between Arizona and South Carolina
Moving from Arizona to South Carolina
Moving to South Carolina from Georgia raises take-home by $337 at $75,000, while coming from North Carolina costs $173 a year at that salary. South Carolina has no city income tax, so the choice between Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia does not change withholding. Lower earners benefit most from the 2026 system, since the full $15,000 deduction and the 1.99% rate cover most of a modest salary.
Moving from South Carolina to Arizona
Moving to Arizona from California raises take-home pay by $1,192 at $75,000, and from Utah by $1,630. Coming from Nevada, you start paying state income tax: $1,473 at that salary. Arizona has no city income taxes, so the statewide figure applies whether you settle in Phoenix, Tucson, or Flagstaff. Turn in Form A-4 on your first day so your employer does not fall back on the default percentage.
Arizona paychecks in brief
Arizona taxes wages at a flat 2.5%, one of the lowest income tax rates in the country, after a standard deduction that matches the federal $16,100 in our estimate. On a $75,000 salary, a single filer sends $1,473 to the Arizona Department of Revenue and nets $60,119 for the year, which works out to $2,312 per biweekly check. Withholding is the unusual part: on Form A-4 you choose a flat percentage of each paycheck, and the default does not track your actual bill. Read the Arizona guide.
South Carolina paychecks in brief
South Carolina rebuilt its income tax for 2026 under H.4216: two rates, 1.99% on the first $30,000 of taxable income and 5.21% above it, applied to federal adjusted gross income minus a new SC income adjusted deduction of up to $15,000 that shrinks as income rises. At $75,000, a single filer's South Carolina bill is $2,657, leaving take-home pay of $58,935, or $2,267 per biweekly check. Charlotte commuters pay North Carolina on those wages and claim a South Carolina credit. Read the South Carolina guide.
Arizona vs South Carolina: FAQ
Does Arizona or South Carolina have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $1,184 more a year in Arizona than in South Carolina ($99 a month). Arizona has a flat 2.5% income tax for 2026. South Carolina has 2 brackets from 1.99% to 5.21% for 2026. For single filers the top 5.21% rate starts at $30,000 of taxable income.
What salary in South Carolina equals $75,000 in Arizona?
To take home the same $60,119 that $75,000 leaves in Arizona, you would need about $76,850 in South Carolina, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in Arizona than in South Carolina?
At $150,000 the gap is $3,501 a year: $110,443 in Arizona versus $106,942 in South Carolina. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.
What if I live in Arizona and work in South Carolina?
Arizona and South Carolina do not have a reciprocity agreement, so South Carolina withholds tax on wages earned there and Arizona generally gives residents a credit for tax paid to the other state. You effectively pay the higher of the two rates.