Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Couriers and Messengers actually take home in South Dakota?
No state income tax — 13.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Couriers and Messengers earning $31,650 in South Dakota (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $31,650 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,814 | 5.7% |
| South Dakota State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,962 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$458 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$4,235 | 13.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $27,414 | 86.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Couriers and Messengers in South Dakota.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $30,260 | -$3,962 | $26,297 | 13.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $30,900 | -$4,087 | $26,812 | 13.2% |
| Median (P50) | $31,650 | -$4,235 | $27,414 | 13.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $36,560 | -$5,200 | $31,359 | 14.2% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $40,910 | -$6,054 | $34,855 | 14.8% |
South Dakota has no state income tax, which means a Couriers and Messengers keeps $27,414 of their $31,650 salary — 86.6% of gross pay. Only federal income tax and FICA reduce the paycheck, making South Dakota one of the most tax-friendly states for this occupation.
A Couriers and Messengers in South Dakota faces an effective total tax rate of only 13.4%, keeping 86.6% of every gross dollar. That leaves $27,415 net out of $31,650 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
South Dakota is one of the few states with zero state income tax for wage earners. For a Couriers and Messengers, that means the only deductions are federal income tax and FICA — no additional state withholding. This typically adds several thousand dollars per year compared to comparable states with income tax.
Federal tax on this Couriers and Messengers salary is $1,814 (43%), but combined state ($0, 0%) + FICA ($2,421, 57%) make up the other 57% of the bill.
South Dakota sits near the bottom (#51 of 51) for Couriers and Messengers after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $27,415 net/year works out to $2,285/month or $1,054/bi-weekly for this Couriers and Messengers in South Dakota — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Couriers and Messengers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Dakota ranks #51 out of 51 states for Couriers and Messengers after-tax take-home pay.
A Couriers and Messengers in South Dakota earning a median salary of $31,650 will take home approximately $27,414 per year after federal income tax ($1,814), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($2,421). That is $2,284 per month or $1,054 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Couriers and Messengers in South Dakota is 13.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 5.7%, South Dakota state tax 0.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
No, South Dakota does not levy a state income tax on wages. This means a Couriers and Messengers in South Dakota only pays federal income tax and FICA taxes, resulting in a lower overall tax burden compared to most other states. The total effective rate is 13.4%.
After all taxes, a Couriers and Messengers in South Dakota takes home approximately $2,284 per month, or about $13.18 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $31,650 for Couriers and Messengers in South Dakota, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), South Dakota state income tax (no state income tax), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $27,414/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR