South Carolina vs Tennessee Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $2,657 more a year in Tennessee than in South Carolina ($221 a month).
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 ›Tennessee
No state income tax on wages
$61,592
take-home on $75,000 · $5,133/month
1st of 51 states for take-home pay
Tennessee paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in South Carolina and Tennessee by salary
| Salary | South Carolina | Tennessee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,822 | $34,320 | $498 more in Tennessee |
| $50,000 | $41,356 | $42,355 | $999 more in Tennessee |
| $60,000 | $48,728 | $50,390 | $1,662 more in Tennessee |
| $75,000 | $58,935 | $61,592 | $2,657 more in Tennessee |
| $100,000 | $74,936 | $79,180 | $4,244 more in Tennessee |
| $125,000 | $91,156 | $96,703 | $5,547 more in Tennessee |
| $150,000 | $106,942 | $113,791 | $6,849 more in Tennessee |
| $200,000 | $139,473 | $148,927 | $9,454 more in Tennessee |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in South Carolina you would need about $71,200 in Tennessee; to match $75,000 in Tennessee you would need about $79,150 in South Carolina.
How South Carolina and Tennessee tax wages
| 2026 | South Carolina | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 2 brackets from 1.99% to 5.21% | no state income tax |
| Top rate | 5.21% | 0% |
| Standard deduction | $15,000 single | Not applicable |
| State tax on $75k | $2,657 (3.5%) | $0 (0.0%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | No |
| Reciprocity | None | None |
| 2026 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. | No rate change |
Moving between South Carolina and Tennessee
Moving from South Carolina to Tennessee
Moving to Tennessee from Virginia raises take-home by $3,498 at $75,000, from Georgia by $2,994, and from Kentucky by $2,507. You will file a final part-year return in your old state but no Tennessee income tax return. The trade-off is sales tax: Tennessee's combined rates are among the highest in the country, and groceries are still taxed at a reduced state rate.
Moving from Tennessee 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.
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.
Tennessee paychecks in brief
Tennessee does not tax wages, and since the Hall tax on interest and dividends ended in 2021 it does not tax investment income either. A single filer earning $75,000 takes home $61,592, or $2,369 every two weeks, after only federal tax and FICA. That is $3,498 more than in Virginia and $2,507 more than in Kentucky. The state's constitution bars a tax on earned income, and the cost shows up instead in some of the highest combined sales tax rates in the country. Read the Tennessee guide.
South Carolina vs Tennessee: FAQ
Does South Carolina or Tennessee have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $2,657 more a year in Tennessee than in South Carolina ($221 a month). 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. Tennessee has no state income tax.
What salary in Tennessee equals $75,000 in South Carolina?
To take home the same $58,935 that $75,000 leaves in South Carolina, you would need about $71,200 in Tennessee, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in Tennessee than in South Carolina?
At $150,000 the gap is $6,849 a year: $106,942 in South Carolina versus $113,791 in Tennessee. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.