Overall a misdemeanor is a lesser crime than a felony. Misdemeanors are often reserved for first offenses or minor offenses like trespassing, simple possession, vandalism, submitting false claims, and most traffic violations.
A common misconception about misdemeanors is that they do not come with jail time. This is untrue. In South Carolina, a misdemeanor can carry up to 3 years of jail time along with up to thousands of dollars in fines. Some crimes may be considered a misdemeanor on the first offense, but become a felony on second offenses like certain drug possession crimes. A misdemeanor does affect your criminal record but often does not hurt your ability to get a job.
A felony is a more serious crime. Felonies include crimes like homicide, arson, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. Felonies generally come with more serious consequences like longer prison sentences, larger fines, and can affect your chances of securing a job. In the case of a felony charge, it is of utmost importance to secure the help of an aggressive defense attorney.