Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Locomotive Engineers actually take home in South Dakota?
No state income tax — 17.9% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Locomotive Engineers earning $69,180 in South Dakota (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $69,180 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$7,060 | 10.2% |
| South Dakota State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$4,289 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,003 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$12,352 | 17.9% |
| Take-Home Pay | $56,827 | 82.1% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Locomotive Engineers in South Dakota.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $62,730 | -$10,440 | $52,289 | 16.6% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $69,180 | -$12,352 | $56,827 | 17.9% |
| Median (P50) | $69,180 | -$12,352 | $56,827 | 17.9% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $69,200 | -$12,358 | $56,841 | 17.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $81,640 | -$16,047 | $65,592 | 19.7% |
South Dakota has no state income tax, which means a Locomotive Engineers keeps $56,827 of their $69,180 salary — 82.1% 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 Locomotive Engineers in South Dakota faces an effective total tax rate of only 17.9%, keeping 82.1% of every gross dollar. That leaves $56,827 net out of $69,180 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 Locomotive Engineers, 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 income tax ($7,061) accounts for 57% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $5,292 (43%), and state tax the remaining $0 (0%).
South Dakota sits near the bottom (#31 of 35) for Locomotive Engineers after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $56,827 net/year works out to $4,736/month or $2,186/bi-weekly for this Locomotive Engineers in South Dakota — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Locomotive Engineers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Dakota ranks #31 out of 35 states for Locomotive Engineers after-tax take-home pay.
A Locomotive Engineers in South Dakota earning a median salary of $69,180 will take home approximately $56,827 per year after federal income tax ($7,060), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($5,292). That is $4,735 per month or $2,185 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Locomotive Engineers in South Dakota is 17.9%, broken down as: federal income tax 10.2%, 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 Locomotive Engineers 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 17.9%.
After all taxes, a Locomotive Engineers in South Dakota takes home approximately $4,735 per month, or about $27.32 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 $69,180 for Locomotive Engineers 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 — $56,827/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