There has been no change to the South Carolina state minimum wage in 2023 as it remains at $7.25 per hour – the federal minimum wage. This hourly rate hasn’t changed in over 10 years (since 2009) and doesn’t seem like it will be increasing in the near future.
South Carolina is not alone, however. There are 21 states out of 50 that currently use the federal minimum wage as their state minimum wage.
Did the South Carolina Minimum Wage Go Up?
The graphic below highlights the South Carolina state minimum wage over the past several years. The minimum wage did not go up and remains at $7.25 per hour in 2023.
Another state that hasn’t increased its minimum wage since 2009 is Texas, if you look at the TX min wage rate now, and over the past ten years, it resembles the South Carolina state minimum wage in 2023 and over the past 10+ years too.
However, just because the minimum wage in South Carolina is $7.25 per hour, it doesn’t mean that certain cities, counties, and towns within the state don’t have their own minimum wage rates, which in some cases could be higher than the state min wage.
If you would like to learn more about the labor laws in South Carolina and how the state protects its workers, you can visit the South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation (SCLLR) website for more information.
You can view and download the official South Carolina state minimum wage labor law poster for 2022-2023 here at no charge. Employers must display a poster outlining the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), ensuring that accurate employee time and pay records are kept.
In 2023, unlike most states, South Carolina isn’t looking to increase the minimum wage, it will remain the same as the federal minimum wage for the foreseeable future according to the state legislature.
South Carolina Minimum Wage History
The table below provides the current rate and history of South Carolina’s minimum wage over the past 40+ years since 1983. You can see when there were increases in the minimum wage, how much they were, and what percentage increase it represents each year.
| State | Wage | $ Wage Increase | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2022 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2021 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2020 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2019 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2018 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2017 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2016 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2015 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2014 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2013 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2012 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2011 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2010 | $7.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2009 | $7.25 | $0.70 | 11% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2008 | $6.55 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2007 | $6.15 | $1.00 | 19.41% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2006 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2005 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2004 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2003 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2002 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2001 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 2000 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1999 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1998 | $5.15 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1997 | $5.15 | $0.40 | 8.42% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1996 | $4.75 | $0.50 | 11.76% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1995 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1994 | $4.25 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1993 | $4.25 | $0.45 | 11.84% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1992 | $3.80 | $0.45 | 13.43% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1991 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1990 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1989 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1988 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1987 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1986 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1985 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1984 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
| North Carolina Minimum Wage 1983 | $3.35 | $0 | 0% |
South Carolina Minimum Wage Exemptions
In addition to the regular minimum wage rate, there are a few South Carolina state minimum wage exemptions that typically depend on your age or employment situation. Below are the various minimum wage exemptions with some situational examples.
The graphic below displays the various South Dakota minimum wage exemption rates:
South Carolina Student Minimum Wage
The minimum wage for student employees in South Carolina is 85% of the South Carolina minimum wage, making their hourly pay $6.16 per hour in 2023.
This hourly rate is for any hours worked up to 20 hours per week. As a student employee, once you surpass 20 hours per week, you will be eligible to be paid the South Carolina minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour.
Being a student can be financially challenging, leading many students to pick up part-time jobs to make extra money while studying. Despite a student minimum wage rate, many South Carolina employers will not necessarily follow it and pay you equal to or more than the statewide minimum wage.
Many work-study programs are available at universities, which is a route many students go down. Still, coffee shop, cafe, bar, and restaurant jobs are commonly taken by students as they can work them into their class schedule.
South Carolina Under 20 Minimum Wage
If you are under 20 years old in South Carolina, federal law allows your employer to pay you as little as $4.25 per hour for your first 90 days of employment.
Once the 90-day period is over, you will be eligible to be paid the 2023 South Carolina state minimum wage of $7.25 per hour or potentially even more.
Fortunately for young workers, this is 90 calendar days and not 90 working days; therefore, it can be completed relatively quickly and within about three months.
South Carolina Tipped Minimum Wage
If you are a tipped employee in South Carolina (someone who receives regular tips as a part of their job) then you are eligible to be paid a minimum wage of $2.13 per hour, with a tip credit of $5.12 per hour, ensuring that you reach the statewide minimum wage regardless if you make enough hourly tips.
South Carolina Overtime Minimum Wage
Once you work over 40 hours a week, you are eligible to be paid an overtime rate of 1.5 times your hourly wage for every hour you work past 40. So, the overtime minimum wage in South Carolina is $10.88 per hour, 1.5 times the minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
