Child support on $40,000 a year in South Carolina (5 children)
South Carolina guidelines effective January 1, 2024. South Carolina overview
If Parent A earns $40,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), South Carolina's guideline amount is $999 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Across the table below it ranges from $875 paid by Parent B (Parent B earns $100,000, equal time) to $1,434 (Parent B has no income, Parent A has no overnights).
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Change the numbers
Guideline child support
South Carolina · 5 children · Parent A $40000 per year · Parent B $40000 per year · children live mostly with Parent B
$999 a month
Parent A pays Parent B
- Parent A: 50% of combined income
- Parent B: 50%
How it adds up
- Combined income
- $6,667 a month
- Basic obligation
- $1,997 a month
- Parent A's share of income
- 50%
- Guideline amount
- $999 a month
See the worksheet for this example
South Carolina uses the income shares model under S.C. Code Ann. § 63-17-470; S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 114-4710 to 114-4750 (Child Support Guidelines). Official calculator: dss.sc.gov. Child support agency: South Carolina Department of Social Services, Child Support Services.
Estimate under South Carolina's child support guidelines effective January 1, 2024. Verified against the official South Carolina sources on October 7, 2026. Not legal advice. Courts can deviate from the guidelines. How we calculate →
By parenting time and the other parent's income
| Overnights | $0 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 | $80,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,434 A→B | $1,201 A→B | $1,091 A→B | $999 A→B | $959 A→B | $903 A→B | $825 A→B | $779 A→B |
| 52 | $1,434 A→B | $1,201 A→B | $1,091 A→B | $999 A→B | $959 A→B | $903 A→B | $825 A→B | $779 A→B |
| 104 | $1,434 A→B | $1,201 A→B | $1,091 A→B | $999 A→B | $959 A→B | $903 A→B | $825 A→B | $779 A→B |
| 128 | $1,397 A→B | $854 A→B | $631 A→B | $447 A→B | $302 A→B | $167 A→B | $66 B→A | $264 B→A |
| 182 | $1,076 A→B | $451 A→B | $203 A→B | $0 — | $181 B→A | $339 B→A | $620 B→A | $875 B→A |
The South Carolina worksheet for this example
| Line | Official label | Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monthly Gross Income (Parent A)Parent A's monthly gross income | $3,333.33 a month |
| 1 | Monthly Gross Income (Parent B)Parent B's monthly gross income | $3,333.33 a month |
| 4 | Adjusted Monthly Gross Income (Parent A)Parent A's adjusted gross income | $3,333.33 a month |
| 4 | Adjusted Monthly Gross Income (Parent B)Parent B's adjusted gross income | $3,333.33 a month |
| 4C | Combined Monthly Adjusted Gross IncomeCombined adjusted gross income | $6,666.67 a month |
| 5 | Basic Combined Child Support ObligationSchedule amount for both parents | $1,997.00 a month |
| 7C | Total Combined Monthly Child Support ObligationSchedule amount plus add-ons | $1,997.00 a month |
| 8 | Proportional Share of Combined Monthly Adjusted Gross Income (Parent A)Parent A's income share | 50% |
| 8 | Proportional Share of Combined Monthly Adjusted Gross Income (Parent B)Parent B's income share | 50% |
| 9 | Gross Child Support Obligation of Individual Parent (Parent A)Parent A's share of the total | $998.50 a month |
| 9 | Gross Child Support Obligation of Individual Parent (Parent B)Parent B's share of the total | $998.50 a month |
| 10 | Credit for Adjustment to Basic Combined Child Support ObligationAdd-ons the paying parent already pays | $0.00 a month |
| 11 | Net Child Support To Be Paid to Custodian (Worksheet A)Sole custody amount | $998.50 a month |
| C9 | Overnights with each parent (Parent A)Overnights a year with Parent A | 52 |
| C9 | Overnights with each parent (Parent B)Overnights a year with Parent B | 313 |
| Final | Final Support ObligationGuideline amount | $998.50 a month |
With child care and health insurance
| Costs | Guideline amount |
|---|---|
| No add-ons | $999 a month A→B |
| Child care $500 a month | $1,249 a month A→B |
| Child care $1,000 a month | $1,499 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $150 a month | $1,074 a month A→B |
| Health insurance $300 a month | $1,149 a month A→B |
The children's health insurance premium, regular extraordinary medical costs and work-related child care are added to the basic obligation and shared by income. Child care is reduced by an estimate of the tax credit when the income of the parent the children live with is above a threshold, whichever parent pays it.
How South Carolina works it out
South Carolina uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the basic child support obligation for the parents' combined monthly adjusted gross income, and each parent is responsible for their share.
Gross income from almost all sources counts, before taxes; the schedule already allows for taxes. Means-tested benefits such as SSI and TANF don't count. Alimony between the parents is added to the income of the parent who receives it and deducted from the parent who pays it.
When the parent with less time has at least 110 overnights a year, the shared parenting worksheet may be used: the basic obligation is multiplied by 1.5, split by income and reduced by each parent's share of overnights, and the two amounts are offset. Close to the threshold the change is phased in overnight by overnight. A judge decides whether to use it.
Frequently asked questions
How much child support is paid on $40,000 in South Carolina for 5 children?
If Parent A earns $40,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the children live mostly with Parent B (52 overnights a year with Parent A), South Carolina's guideline amount is about $999 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
How much is that a week?
That is about $230 a week (the monthly amount × 12 ÷ 52).
What if the parents share time equally?
With about equal parenting time and the same incomes, the guideline amount is about $0 a month (neither parent pays).
What if Parent B has no income?
If Parent B has no income and the children live mostly with Parent B, the guideline amount is about $1,434 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
Official sources and verification
- Law: S.C. Code Ann. § 63-17-470; S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 114-4710 to 114-4750 (Child Support Guidelines)
- South Carolina child support guidelines
- Worksheets A (sole custody), B (split custody) and C (shared parenting), DSS Booklet 2819
- Official South Carolina child support calculator
- South Carolina Department of Social Services, Child Support Services
- Changing a South Carolina child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2024. Verified against the official South Carolina sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →