Employment & Worker Protection · South Carolina
South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor
Enacted employment & worker protection regulation in South Carolina.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2009
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 17/100
- South Carolina strictness
The bottom line
South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor is an enacted law in South Carolina, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2009-07-24
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 17/100
- South Carolina strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official South Carolina legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor
South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor is an enacted law in South Carolina under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2009-07-24 and becomes effective on 2009-07-24. South Carolina currently reports 1 tracked regulations with 1 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 17/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places South Carolina within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in the enabling statute itself.
Applicability under South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor: FLSA-covered employers in South Carolina. Penalty exposure is documented as: Federal FLSA enforcement only. Notable exemptions: FLSA exemptions..
Summary
South Carolina has no state minimum wage law. Federal $7.25/hr applies.
Key Requirements
Federal $7.25/hr applies. No state minimum wage statute.
Penalties
Federal FLSA enforcement only.
Applicability
FLSA-covered employers in South Carolina.
Exemptions
FLSA exemptions.
Official Source
https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/stateHow South Carolina compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - South Carolina ranks #48 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. South Carolina is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor enacted?
South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor was enacted on 2009-07-24 and became effective on 2009-07-24.
What are the penalties for violating South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor?
Federal FLSA enforcement only. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor apply to small businesses?
FLSA-covered employers in South Carolina. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does South Carolina compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
South Carolina has a regulatory strictness score of 17/100, based on 1 enacted regulation out of 1 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor?
The official text of South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor is available from the South Carolina legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- South Carolina Minimum Wage — Federal Floor is enacted in South Carolina, effective 2009-07-24. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; South Carolina ranks #48 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation South Carolina tracks across all five policy areas. South Carolina profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official South Carolina source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.