The minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25 an hour as of October 2026, because the state has no minimum wage law and the federal rate applies. Tipped employees can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash under the federal rule, as long as tips bring them up to $7.25.
The U.S. Department of Labor's state table lists South Carolina among the states with no minimum wage law. What South Carolina does have is the Payment of Wages Act, enforced by the Wages and Child Labor Section of the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The details below come from that office's FAQ and Payment of Wages page and the Department of Labor's tables, read in October 2026.
South Carolina pay floors
| Pay item | Amount (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage (federal) | $7.25 an hour |
| Tipped cash wage (federal) | $2.13 an hour |
| Maximum tip credit (federal) | $5.12 an hour |
| Tips needed to count as tipped | More than $30 a month |
When the federal law covers you
Federal coverage is the whole question in South Carolina. The Fair Labor Standards Act covers an enterprise with employees in interstate commerce and annual gross sales of more than $500,000, and it covers schools, hospitals, health care facilities and public agencies regardless of sales. Individual workers are covered too when their own work crosses state lines, which catches most shop, office and hospitality jobs. If you're covered, you pay $7.25 and federal overtime after 40 hours in a week.
No breaks required
South Carolina's labor office is direct about this: there's no requirement under South Carolina law for an employer to give employees breaks or a lunch period. The Oklahoma Department of Labor's FAQ notes that federal law doesn't require breaks for workers aged 16 or older either, so breaks are a policy choice. If you do give short breaks, my lunch break laws guide explains when break time has to be paid.
The pay-cut notice rule
Here's the rule South Carolina owners most often miss. An employer can lower an employee's rate of pay, but if it has 5 or more employees, it must notify the employee in writing at least seven calendar days before the cut takes effect. The same 5-employee line also triggers a notice at hiring, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's payday table.
- At hiring, tell each employee in writing the wages agreed, the time and place of payment and the expected hours of work.
- Pay on the normal payday and at the place of payment you set.
- Before cutting anyone's pay, give written notice at least seven calendar days ahead.
- If you offer vacation or sick pay, give notice of the policy and follow it consistently.
The Payment of Wages Act also expects an itemised statement of gross wages and deductions, plus records about each employee. If you're not issuing pay stubs, that's the first thing to fix.
Final pay in South Carolina
When someone quits or is let go, the employer doesn't have to pay everything that day. State law requires all wages due within 48 hours of the day of separation or by the next regularly scheduled payday, which can't be more than 30 days away. My final paycheck guide compares that with stricter states.
Vacation, sick pay and at-will rules
South Carolina law doesn't require an employer to provide paid vacation or sick time. If an employer chooses to, it must give notice of the policy, stick to it and not discriminate in how it applies it. South Carolina is also an at-will state, which the labor office explains means employees may be terminated for a good reason, a bad reason or no reason, and can quit without notice. Discrimination claims go to the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission rather than the wage office.
Young workers
A minor can start work at 14 in South Carolina, though child labour laws restrict the type of work and the hours. The minor needs to give the employer a copy of a legal document showing their birth date, such as a birth certificate or driver's license.
South Carolina and its neighbours
| State | Minimum wage (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | No state law, $7.25 federal |
| North Carolina | $7.25 |
| Georgia | $5.15 state, $7.25 federal for covered jobs |
| Tennessee | No state law, $7.25 federal |
Every state around South Carolina lands on $7.25 in practice. My North Carolina minimum wage guide covers the neighbour with its own state law and stricter tip paperwork.
Filing a wage complaint in South Carolina
Employees can file a wage or child labor complaint online with LLR. A chief investigator screens each complaint to check it falls under the Payment of Wages Act, then assigns an investigator if it alleges enough facts about unpaid wages, commissions or benefits. Where violations are found, sanctions such as citations and warnings are issued to the employer. The office notes that many complaints describe something an employer did wrong that the Act doesn't cover, so it's worth reading the Act's scope first.
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My verdict
South Carolina's minimum wage is simply the federal $7.25. The parts that carry legal risk are procedural: written terms at hiring once you have 5 staff, seven days' written notice before any pay cut, and final pay within 48 hours or by the next payday. Those are cheap to get right and expensive to get wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in South Carolina?
It's $7.25 an hour as of October 2026, the federal rate, because South Carolina has no state minimum wage law.
Does South Carolina require lunch breaks?
No. State law doesn't require employers to give breaks or a lunch period.
Can a South Carolina employer cut my pay?
Yes, but an employer with 5 or more employees must give written notice at least seven calendar days in advance.
When is a final paycheck due in South Carolina?
Within 48 hours of separation or by the next regularly scheduled payday, not to exceed 30 days.
Do South Carolina employers have to give paid vacation?
No. If they offer it, they must give notice of the policy, follow it and apply it without discrimination.
What is the tipped minimum wage in South Carolina?
It's $2.13 an hour in cash under the federal rule, with tips bringing the total to at least $7.25.
At what age can you work in South Carolina?
A minor can begin work at 14, with limits on the type of work and hours.
Who enforces wage laws in South Carolina?
The Wages and Child Labor Section of the S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
