Maine 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 $538 more per year in South Carolina than in Maine ($58,250 vs $57,712, tax year 2026) — the entire gap comes from state tax, since federal and FICA are identical everywhere.
Both states use graduated systems, but the ladders are built differently: Maine takes 3 steps to a 7.15% top rate (reached at $64,849), South Carolina 3 steps to 6% (at $18,230). How the slopes interact shows in the spread: $350 a year at $50,000, $538 at $75,000, and $2,536 at $250,000. The federal share ($7,670 income tax, $5,738 FICA) cancels out of this comparison entirely.
| Salary | Maine net | South Carolina net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,162 | $40,512 | $350 |
| $75,000 | $57,712 | $58,250 | $538 |
| $100,000 | $73,526 | $74,337 | $811 |
| $150,000 | $104,562 | $105,948 | $1,386 |
| $250,000 | $166,803 | $169,339 | $2,536 |
| Maine | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax type | Graduated | Graduated |
| Top rate | 7.15% | 6% |
| State tax at $75,000 | $3,881 | $3,343 |
| Take-home rank | #49 of 51 | #38 of 51 |
Which state has better take-home pay, Maine or South Carolina?
At $75,000, South Carolina keeps $538 more per year than Maine ($58,250 vs $57,712, tax year 2026).
Why is take-home pay different if federal tax is the same?
Both ladders start low and climb, but at different speeds — at $75,000 the two bracket structures sit $538 apart, all of it state income tax. Federal tax and FICA match to the cent.
Does the gap between Maine and South Carolina grow at higher salaries?
Yes — from $350 at $50,000 to $2,536 at $250,000; the steeper of the two ladders pulls away as income rises.
Which state ranks higher for take-home pay overall?
Maine ranks #49 of 51 and South Carolina ranks #38 of 51 nationally for take-home pay at $75,000.
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