South Carolina Minimum Wage Overview & 2027 Labor Laws
South Carolina is one of five southern states without an independent state minimum wage law, relying on federal FLSA rules.
South Carolina state law does not establish an independent minimum wage or overtime statute. Compensation across Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville is governed by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act ($7.25/hr standard, $2.13/hr tipped). South Carolina Code Section 6-1-130 explicitly prohibits county and city governments from mandating local minimum wages or employee benefits on private businesses.
Municipal & City Minimum Wages in South Carolina
Certain cities and counties within South Carolina enforce independent municipal minimum wage ordinances that supersede the statewide floor. If work is performed within municipal boundaries, employers must comply with the local rate:
| City / Municipality | Applicable Wage Rate | Jurisdiction Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $7.25 (State preemption prevents local wage increases) | Local municipal standard |
| Columbia | $7.25 | Local municipal standard |
| Greenville | $7.25 | Local municipal standard |
Tipped Wages & Tip Credit Rules in South Carolina
Under South Carolina labor regulations, tipped employees (such as restaurant servers, food runners, and bartenders) must receive a direct cash wage of at least $2.13 per hour directly from their employer.
Employers are permitted to claim a maximum tip credit of $5.12 per hour. However, under state and federal law, the tip credit is only legal if the employee's direct cash pay plus received customer tips equal at least the standard minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for all hours worked during the pay period. If tips are insufficient to bridge the gap, the employer is legally mandated to pay the difference directly.
Overtime Regulations in South Carolina
Statutory Rule: 1.5x regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek under federal FLSA.
Under standard FLSA guidelines, non-exempt hourly workers must receive time-and-a-half (1.5 times their regular hourly rate) for all hours worked over 40 in a designated 7-day workweek. Employers cannot average hours across multiple workweeks to avoid paying overtime.
Exemptions & Special Wage Categories
Federal FLSA coverage guidelines govern all wage exemptions in South Carolina.
- Bona Fide Executive, Administrative & Professional Employees: Salaried workers who meet designated statutory duty tests and weekly salary thresholds are generally exempt from state and federal minimum wage and overtime mandates.
- Youth & Training Wages: Under federal law, employers may pay workers under age 20 a sub-minimum training wage of $4.25 per hour during their first 90 consecutive calendar days of employment, provided state law permits.
- Independent Contractors: True 1099 independent contractors are not subject to statutory minimum wage protections, though misclassification carries severe state and federal penalties.
Workplace Labor Law Posters & Compliance
Every covered business operating in South Carolina is legally mandated to display the official state minimum wage and labor law notice in a conspicuous place accessible to all employees (such as a staff break room or time clock station).
Official posters can be downloaded free of charge directly from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR) portal at https://llr.sc.gov/. Employers should never purchase mandatory labor law posters from third-party private vendors claiming government authority.