South Carolina Child Support Calculator
South Carolina sets child support in its Child Support Guidelines, Regs. 114-4710 to 114-4750, an income-shares model built on both parents' gross income. The current schedule took effect February 2024. This calculator follows Worksheet A for sole custody and Worksheet C for shared custody, with the phase-in between 110 and 128 overnights, child care, the children's health insurance and the self-support reserve.
Gross income before taxes, including alimony received, less alimony and other court-ordered support paid
Gross income before taxes, including alimony received, less alimony and other court-ordered support paid
Out of 365; more than 109 with each parent is shared custody, phased in until 128
Before tax credits; the residential parent's cost is reduced by the simulated credit
Before tax credits; the residential parent's cost is reduced by the simulated credit
The children's portion of the premium; shared by income
The children's portion of the premium; shared by income
Estimated monthly child support
Parent A (pays support)
Annual amount
Who pays
| Step | Amount |
|---|---|
| Combined monthly adjusted gross income (line 4C) | $8,000.00 |
| Basic combined child support obligation (line 5C) | $1,035.00 |
| Total combined obligation (line 7C) | $1,035.00 |
| Parent A's share (line 9) 62.5% of combined income | $646.88 |
| Worksheet A support (line 11) | $646.88 |
| Monthly child support Parent A pays | $646.88 |
This is a guideline estimate under S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 114-4710 to 114-4750 for informational purposes only — it is not legal advice and not a substitute for the official worksheet or a family-law attorney. Courts can deviate from guideline amounts based on statutory factors, and inputs like income determination or imputed income are ultimately decided by the court.
South Carolina child support at a glance
| Model | Income shares (monthly adjusted gross income) |
| Schedule | $750 to $40,000 combined income, interpolated |
| Shared custody | More than 109 overnights each (full at 128) |
| Shared multiplier | 1.5 |
| Self-support reserve | $1,010.50 a month |
| Guidelines in effect since | February 2024 |
Income and the schedule
South Carolina uses gross income from almost any source, including alimony received, then subtracts alimony paid and court-ordered support for other children; this calculator takes adjusted gross income as entered. The schedule runs from $750 to $40,000 of combined monthly income in $50 steps for 1 to 6 children, and amounts between rows are interpolated. Below $750 the court sets support case by case, ordinarily at least $100 a month; above $40,000 ($480,000 a year) it also decides case by case, and this calculator shows the $40,000 row.
Shared custody and the phase-in
Worksheet C applies when each parent has more than 109 court-ordered overnights a year and both contribute to the children's expenses. The basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, each parent's income share of that is reduced by the time the children spend with that parent, and the larger amount less the smaller is paid. From 110 to 127 overnights the order is graduated: the Worksheet A amount less the difference between Worksheet A and Worksheet C times the worksheet's overnight factor, which rises evenly to 1 at 128.
Self-support reserve and child care
The schedule builds in a self-support reserve of $1,010.50 a month. Where the paying parent's own income falls in the shaded part of the schedule (up to $1,300 for one child and $2,050 for six), support is read from the schedule at that parent's income alone, with no add-ons. Work-related child care is added to the basic obligation net of tax credits: when the residential parent's income is above $3,200 (one child) to $8,400 (six), the cost is cut by 27% of it, at most $68 for one child or $135 for two or more. This calculator applies the reserve test on Worksheet A only.
Frequently asked questions
Does South Carolina use gross or net income for child support?
Gross income. Wages, self-employment profit, bonuses, rents, dividends, pensions, Social Security, unemployment and workers' compensation benefits and alimony all count; means-tested benefits such as SSI, TANF and SNAP do not. The schedule already allows for taxes.
How does shared custody work for child support in South Carolina?
With more than 109 overnights a year with each parent, Worksheet C multiplies the basic obligation by 1.5, splits it by income, and weights each parent's share by the other parent's time; the parent owing more pays the difference. Between 110 and 127 overnights the order moves gradually from the sole custody amount to the Worksheet C amount.
What is the self-support reserve in South Carolina?
$1,010.50 a month. It is built into the shaded part of the schedule: when the paying parent's own income and number of children fall there, support is calculated from that parent's income only and without insurance or child care add-ons.
What is the minimum child support in South Carolina?
When combined income is below $750 a month the court decides case by case, and the guidelines say support should ordinarily be at least $100 a month so that a specific amount is always ordered.
What if combined income is above $40,000 a month?
The schedule stops at $40,000 ($480,000 a year). Above it the court sets support case by case. This calculator shows the $40,000 row as a reference.
What does this calculator leave out?
Alimony and other income adjustments (enter adjusted gross income), the credit for other children in the home, imputed income, extraordinary medical expenses, the actual tax credit method for child care, split custody (Worksheet B) and deviations. The DSS Worksheets A, B and C are the official calculation.