Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Forensic Science Technicians actually take home in South Dakota?
No state income tax — 15.8% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Forensic Science Technicians earning $51,690 in South Dakota (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $51,690 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$4,218 | 8.2% |
| South Dakota State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,204 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$749 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$8,173 | 15.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $43,516 | 84.2% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Forensic Science Technicians in South Dakota.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $26,450 | -$3,213 | $23,236 | 12.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $43,680 | -$6,599 | $37,080 | 15.1% |
| Median (P50) | $51,690 | -$8,173 | $43,516 | 15.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,310 | -$10,315 | $51,994 | 16.6% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $72,510 | -$13,340 | $59,169 | 18.4% |
South Dakota has no state income tax, which means a Forensic Science Technicians keeps $43,516 of their $51,690 salary — 84.2% 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 Forensic Science Technicians in South Dakota faces an effective total tax rate of only 15.8%, keeping 84.2% of every gross dollar. That leaves $43,517 net out of $51,690 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 Forensic Science Technicians, 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 Forensic Science Technicians salary is $4,219 (52%), but combined state ($0, 0%) + FICA ($3,954, 48%) make up the other 48% of the bill.
South Dakota sits near the bottom (#38 of 41) for Forensic Science Technicians after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $43,517 net/year works out to $3,626/month or $1,674/bi-weekly for this Forensic Science Technicians in South Dakota — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Forensic Science Technicians keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Dakota ranks #38 out of 41 states for Forensic Science Technicians after-tax take-home pay.
A Forensic Science Technicians in South Dakota earning a median salary of $51,690 will take home approximately $43,516 per year after federal income tax ($4,218), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($3,954). That is $3,626 per month or $1,673 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Forensic Science Technicians in South Dakota is 15.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.2%, South Dakota state tax 0.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. 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 Forensic Science Technicians 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 15.8%.
After all taxes, a Forensic Science Technicians in South Dakota takes home approximately $3,626 per month, or about $20.92 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 $51,690 for Forensic Science Technicians 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 — $43,516/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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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