Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker salary in South Dakota
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker in South Dakota earns a median of $34,700 a year ($16.68/hour equivalent), 9.0% below the national median of $38,150. South Dakota ranks #46 of 51 states. About 250 people do this job in South Dakota.
Take-home pay in South Dakota
At the South Dakota median, a single filer keeps about $30,061 a year after federal, FICA and South Dakota taxes — $1,156 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the South Dakota paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,334.62
- Federal income tax
- −$76.31
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$82.75
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.35
- South Dakota income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,156.21
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $34,700
- Federal
- $1,984
- FICA
- $2,655
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $30,061
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How South Dakota compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Rhode Island | $49,770 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $49,080 |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $46,670 |
| #4 | California | $46,260 |
| #5 | New Jersey | $46,160 |
| #46 | South Dakota | $34,700 |
| #49 | West Virginia | $32,350 |
| #50 | Louisiana | $30,480 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $30,360 |
See the national veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers (SOC 31-9096), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a veterinary assistant and laboratory animal caretaker make in South Dakota?
The median salary is $34,700 a year and the average is $33,240 (BLS May 2025).
Is South Dakota a good state for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers?
South Dakota ranks #46 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 9% below the national median of $38,150.
What is $34,700 after taxes in South Dakota?
About $30,061 a year ($1,156 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.