South Carolina Minimum Wage 2026
Last updated: · Source: South Carolina Department of Labor
South Carolina · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2009-07-24
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$2.13/hr
Tip Credit
$5.12/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2009-07-24
South Carolina Wage Calculator
Current South Carolina Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. South Carolina follows the federal minimum wage set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which has remained at $7.25/hr since 2009. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
South Carolina Tipped Minimum Wage
In South Carolina, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $2.13/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $7.25/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $2.13/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $5.12/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $7.25/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
South Carolina Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. South Carolina follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
City & County Minimum Wages in South Carolina
S.C. Code § 6-1-130(B), enacted 2002, prohibits cities and counties from establishing a minimum wage rate that exceeds the federal minimum wage.
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $7.25/hr (state rate) | State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances; follows the $7.25/hr federal rate. |
| Charleston | $7.25/hr (state rate) | State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances; follows the $7.25/hr federal rate. |
| Greenville | $7.25/hr (state rate) | State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances; follows the $7.25/hr federal rate. |
| Myrtle Beach | $7.25/hr (state rate) | State law preempts local minimum wage ordinances; follows the $7.25/hr federal rate. |
South Carolina Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in South Carolina over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7.25/hr | 2009-07-24 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25 per hour in 2026, effective 2009-07-24. Tipped employees may be paid $2.13 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $7.25/hr.
South Carolina has no state minimum wage law and remains at the federal $7.25/hr rate in 2026; bills proposing an $8.75-$17.00/hr state minimum wage have been introduced but not passed.
In South Carolina, tipped employees must be paid at least $2.13 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $5.12/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $7.25/hr.
South Carolina follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
S.C. Code § 6-1-130(B), enacted 2002, prohibits cities and counties from establishing a minimum wage rate that exceeds the federal minimum wage.