Waiter and Waitress salary in South Dakota
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A waiter and waitress in South Dakota earns a median of $28,990 a year ($13.94/hour equivalent), 17.7% below the national median of $35,230. South Dakota ranks #35 of 51 states. About 7,350 people do this job in South Dakota.
Take-home pay in South Dakota
At the South Dakota median, a single filer keeps about $25,473 a year after federal, FICA and South Dakota taxes — $980 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the South Dakota paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,115.00
- Federal income tax
- −$49.95
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$69.13
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$16.17
- South Dakota income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $979.75
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $28,990
- Federal
- $1,299
- FICA
- $2,218
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $25,473
- 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 | Hawaii | $62,390 |
| #2 | Vermont | $59,140 |
| #3 | Washington | $56,130 |
| #4 | Oregon | $48,410 |
| #5 | District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| #35 | South Dakota | $28,990 |
| #49 | South Carolina | $18,370 |
| #50 | Oklahoma | $17,910 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $15,080 |
See the national waiter and waitress salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Waiters and Waitresses (SOC 35-3031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in South Dakota?
The median salary is $28,990 a year and the average is $30,860 (BLS May 2025).
Is South Dakota a good state for waiters and waitresses?
South Dakota ranks #35 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 18% below the national median of $35,230.
What is $28,990 after taxes in South Dakota?
About $25,473 a year ($980 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.