How much does it cost to hire an employee in South Carolina?

On a $50,000 salary, employer payroll taxes and insurance add about $4,530 (9.1%), before benefits, for a total of $54,530.

What is the South Carolina SUTA rate for new employers?

New employers generally pay 1.06% on the first $14,000 of each employee's wages. Experienced employers pay between 0.06% and 5.46%.

Do South Carolina employers pay FUTA?

Yes. Employers pay 6.0% on the first $7,000 of wages, reduced to 0.6% with the state unemployment credit.

Cost to hire an employee in South Carolina

On top of a $50,000 salary, a South Carolina employer pays roughly $4,530 in payroll taxes and insurance before benefits, about 9.1% of wages.

Last verified November 2, 2026. Sources: eddy.com, oregon.gov.

What a South Carolina employer pays

Cost	Rate	Applies to
Social Security	6.2%	Wages up to $184,500
Medicare	1.45%	All wages
Federal unemployment (FUTA)	0.6% net	First $7,000
South Carolina unemployment (SUTA)	1.06% new employer 0.06%–5.46% experienced	First $14,000
Workers' compensation	~$1.03 per $100	Varies by job class

Departmental administrative contingency assessment 0.06%, included in the rates

Total cost at different salaries

Salary	Employer taxes & insurance	% of salary	Total cost
$35,000	$3,228	9.2%	$38,228
$50,000	$4,530	9.1%	$54,530
$75,000	$6,700	8.9%	$81,700
$100,000	$8,870	8.9%	$108,870
$150,000	$13,210	8.8%	$163,210

Benefits usually cost more than taxes. The BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation survey puts benefits at roughly 30% of total compensation in private industry. Add your health plan cost in the calculator to include it.

South Carolina vs. neighboring states

State	SUTA wage base	New-employer rate	Cost on $50,000
South Carolina	$14,000	1.06%	$4,530
Georgia	$9,500	2.7%	$4,669
North Carolina	$34,200	1%	$4,684

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to hire an employee in South Carolina?: On a $50,000 salary, employer payroll taxes and insurance add about $4,530 (9.1%), before benefits, for a total of $54,530.
What is the South Carolina SUTA rate for new employers?: New employers generally pay 1.06% on the first $14,000 of each employee's wages. Experienced employers pay between 0.06% and 5.46%.
Do South Carolina employers pay FUTA?: Yes. Employers pay 6.0% on the first $7,000 of wages, reduced to 0.6% with the state unemployment credit.