South Carolina minimum wage: $7.25 an hour (the federal rate)
Checked November 8, 2026Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (no state minimum wage agency)
Short answer
South Carolina has no state minimum wage above the federal one, so most employers there must pay at least $7.25 an hour under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Employers may pay tipped employees $2.13 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
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- Minimum wage today
- $7.25
- Tipped employees, cash wage
- $2.13
- Full-time year at today’s rate (2,080 hours)
- $15,080
We found no city or county in South Carolina with its own higher minimum wage.
South Carolina minimum wage by date
| Effective | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2009Current | $7.25 | $2.13 | No state minimum wage law; the federal minimum ($7.25 since July 24, 2009) and federal $2.13 tipped cash wage apply to employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.source |
Other South Carolina pay rules
- Paydays
- No set frequency. Employers with 5 or more employees must tell new hires in writing (or by a posted notice) when and where they will be paid, and give 7 days’ written notice of changes.
- Overtime
- Follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. We found no separate state overtime rule.
- Final paycheck
- Fired: Within 48 hours or by the next regular payday, but no later than 30 days. Quit: Within 48 hours or by the next regular payday, but no later than 30 days.
From the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and the U.S. Department of Labor’s state tables. All South Carolina employer rules.
Minimum wage in states next to South Carolina
If you hire across a state line, the worker’s state sets the rate.
| State | Today | Next change |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| Georgia | $7.25 | None scheduled |
| North Carolina | $7.25 | None scheduled |
Questions employers ask
What is the minimum wage in South Carolina in 2026?
South Carolina has no state minimum wage above the federal one, so most employers there must pay at least $7.25 an hour under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
What is the tipped minimum wage in South Carolina?
Employers may pay tipped employees $2.13 an hour in cash, as long as tips bring them up to at least $7.25.
When does the South Carolina minimum wage go up next?
No increase is scheduled under current South Carolina law. Any change would need new legislation or a ballot measure.
Do cities in South Carolina have a higher minimum wage?
We found no city or county minimum wage in South Carolina.
Does South Carolina require overtime pay?
Follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) rule: time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. We found no separate state overtime rule.
Compare every state’s minimum wage · Everything employers in South Carolina must do
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (no state minimum wage agency)
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (revised November 5, 2026), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)
- History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates Under the FLSA, 1938-2009, U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (read Nov 8, 2026)