Salaries › Payroll Clerk › South Carolina
Payroll Clerk Salary in South Carolina (2026)
$25.12 per hour · take-home ≈ $42,178/year ($3,515/month) for a single filer
South Carolina ranks 39th of 51 states for Payroll Clerk pay, with a median about 9% below the national average. Of the 1,550 Payroll Clerk jobs BLS counts in South Carolina, the typical worker earns $52,240 a year — though pay ranges from $38,180 for newcomers to $77,660 at the top.
Payroll Clerk pay range in South Carolina
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $38,180 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $45,500 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $52,240 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $62,400 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $77,660 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,550 Payroll Clerk jobs in South Carolina (occupation code 43-3051, “Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Carolina
A median Payroll Clerk salary of $52,240 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus South Carolina state income tax, a single filer keeps about $42,178 — an effective tax rate of 19.3%.
| Gross (median) | $52,240 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,089 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,996 |
| South Carolina state income tax | −$1,977 |
| Take-home (annual) | $42,178 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,515 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free South Carolina paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Payroll Clerk make in South Carolina?
- The median Payroll Clerk salary in South Carolina is $52,240 per year ($25.12 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $45,500 and $62,400.
- What is the take-home pay for a Payroll Clerk in South Carolina?
- On the median salary of $52,240, a single filer in South Carolina takes home about $42,178 per year ($3,515 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 19.3%.
- How many Payroll Clerk jobs are there in South Carolina?
- BLS counts 1,550 Payroll Clerk jobs in South Carolina in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Payroll Clerks
Other salaries in South Carolina
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified South Carolina state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for South Carolina.