North Carolina vs South Carolina Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)

On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $173 more a year in North Carolina than in South Carolina ($14 a month).

North Carolina

3.99% flat state income tax

$59,108

take-home on $75,000 · $4,926/month

22nd of 51 states for take-home pay

North Carolina 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 North Carolina and South Carolina by salary

Salary	North Carolina	South Carolina	Difference
$40,000	$33,233	$33,822	$589 more in South Carolina
$50,000	$40,869	$41,356	$487 more in South Carolina
$60,000	$48,505	$48,728	$223 more in South Carolina
$75,000	$59,108	$58,935	$173 more in North Carolina
$100,000	$75,699	$74,936	$763 more in North Carolina
$125,000	$92,224	$91,156	$1,068 more in North Carolina
$150,000	$108,315	$106,942	$1,373 more in North Carolina
$200,000	$141,456	$139,473	$1,983 more in North Carolina

Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in North Carolina you would need about $75,250 in South Carolina; to match $75,000 in South Carolina you would need about $74,750 in North Carolina.

How North Carolina and South Carolina tax wages

2026	North Carolina	South Carolina
Income tax	a flat 3.99% income tax	2 brackets from 1.99% to 5.21%
Top rate	3.99%	5.21%
Standard deduction	$12,750 single	$15,000 single
State tax on $75k	$2,484 (3.3%)	$2,657 (3.5%)
Local wage taxes	No	No
Reciprocity	None	None
2026 change	North Carolina's flat rate fell to 3.99% for 2026; the budget signed in July 2026 sets 3.49% for 2027, with further scheduled cuts in later years.	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 North Carolina and South Carolina

Moving from North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Moving to North Carolina from Virginia or Georgia raises take-home pay at $75,000, by $1,014 and $510. Coming from Tennessee or Florida costs $2,484 a year at that salary. The flat 3.99% rate and no local income taxes keep the math simple: give your employer an NC-4, and expect a part-year return for the year you arrive.

North Carolina paychecks in brief

North Carolina cut its flat income tax rate to 3.99% for 2026, applied after a $12,750 standard deduction for single filers. A single filer earning $75,000 owes $2,484 to the state and takes home $59,108 a year, or $2,273 every two weeks. There are no city or county income taxes, so the same rate applies whether you work in Charlotte, Raleigh, or a small mountain town. Read the North Carolina 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.

North Carolina vs South Carolina: FAQ

Does North Carolina or South Carolina have lower income taxes in 2026?

On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $173 more a year in North Carolina than in South Carolina ($14 a month). North Carolina has a flat 3.99% 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 North Carolina?

To take home the same $59,108 that $75,000 leaves in North Carolina, you would need about $75,250 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 North Carolina than in South Carolina?

At $150,000 the gap is $1,373 a year: $108,315 in North Carolina versus $106,942 in South Carolina. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.

What if I live in North Carolina and work in South Carolina?

North Carolina and South Carolina do not have a reciprocity agreement, so South Carolina withholds tax on wages earned there and North Carolina generally gives residents a credit for tax paid to the other state. You effectively pay the higher of the two rates.