State desk
Ranks 19th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where South Carolina stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 5 South Carolina outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · South Carolina in red. Free to cite with attribution.
No permit required to carry a concealed handgun since 2024; optional permits remain available for reciprocity.
South Carolina is 1 of 29 states with this rule
15 · Shall-Issue Permit6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
South Carolina taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 6.00 percent across 2 brackets, ranking 14 of 41 among the states that tax income.
South Carolina is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
South Carolina charges 28.75 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 30 of 50, which is near the middle nationally. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 47.15 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 28.75 cents.
South Carolina is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest17 · Among the Lowest
Retains the death penalty.
South Carolina is 1 of 23 states with this rule
4 · Retains it, executions paused23 · Abolished
Right-to-work by statute since 1954.
South Carolina is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
No state minimum wage law; the federal $7.25 floor applies to covered employers.
South Carolina is 1 of 5 states with this rule
30 · Above the Federal Floor12 · Matches the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies
Voters are asked for photo ID; those with a reasonable impediment may vote after signing an affidavit.
South Carolina is 1 of 14 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
Education Scholarship Trust Fund ESA is income-limited and was re-enacted in 2025 after a court ruling.
South Carolina is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal17 · No Private-Choice Program
NCSL lists South Carolina among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present. Self-defense law here also shields a person from civil suit for damages.
South Carolina is 1 of 31 states with this rule
7 · Recognized by Court Decision12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Voters must have a qualifying excuse, such as illness, absence, or disability, to vote absentee by mail.
South Carolina is 1 of 13 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail29 · No-Excuse Absentee
South Carolina's unemployment rate was 4.0% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, down 0.1 percentage points from 4.1% in August. It ranks 28th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), up from 29th. A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 4.7%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
South Carolina is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court