Georgia vs South Carolina: Take-Home Pay (2026)
Same salary, two tax codes — computed for tax year 2026, single filer with standard deduction.
Quick answer
According to netpaytally.com's computations, a $75,000 salary keeps $73 more per year in Georgia than in South Carolina ($58,323 vs $58,250, tax year 2026) — the entire gap comes from state tax, since federal and FICA are identical everywhere.
Georgia's single 5.19% rate meets South Carolina's 3-step ladder (up to 6%), and which system bites harder depends on where a salary sits. Below about $60,000 the ladder's low opening steps actually undercut the flat rate, so the winner flips there; from $75,000 upward Georgia stays ahead — by $1,491 a year at $250,000. The federal share ($7,670 income tax, $5,738 FICA) cancels out of this comparison entirely.
| Salary | Georgia net | South Carolina net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,383 | $40,512 | $129 |
| $75,000 | $58,323 | $58,250 | $73 |
| $100,000 | $74,613 | $74,337 | $276 |
| $150,000 | $106,629 | $105,948 | $681 |
| $250,000 | $170,830 | $169,339 | $1,491 |
| Georgia | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax type | Flat | Graduated |
| Top rate | 5.19% | 6% |
| State tax at $75,000 | $3,270 | $3,343 |
| Take-home rank | #37 of 51 | #38 of 51 |
Which state has better take-home pay, Georgia or South Carolina?
At $75,000, Georgia keeps $73 more per year than South Carolina ($58,323 vs $58,250, tax year 2026).
Why is take-home pay different if federal tax is the same?
Everything above the federal line is state policy: Georgia's one-rate system against South Carolina's bracket ladder. At $75,000 that structural difference is worth $73 a year.
Is Georgia ahead at every salary level?
No — below about $60,000, South Carolina actually keeps more, because a graduated ladder opens with lower rates than a flat tax. The advantage flips before $75,000 and widens to $1,491 at $250,000.
Which state ranks higher for take-home pay overall?
Georgia ranks #37 of 51 and South Carolina ranks #38 of 51 nationally for take-home pay at $75,000.
Georgia paycheck calculator · South Carolina paycheck calculator · All states ranked