Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Mechanical Engineers actually take home in South Dakota?
No state income tax — 20.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Mechanical Engineers earning $88,380 in South Dakota (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $88,380 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$11,284 | 12.8% |
| South Dakota State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$5,479 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,281 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$18,045 | 20.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $70,334 | 79.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $65,130 | -$11,152 | $53,977 | 17.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $77,160 | -$14,718 | $62,441 | 19.1% |
| Median (P50) | $88,380 | -$18,045 | $70,334 | 20.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $106,850 | -$23,522 | $83,327 | 22.0% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $134,140 | -$31,993 | $102,146 | 23.9% |
South Dakota has no state income tax, which means a Mechanical Engineers keeps $70,334 of their $88,380 salary — 79.6% 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.
With an effective total rate of 20.4%, a Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota keeps $70,334 of $88,380 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
South Dakota is one of the few states with zero state income tax for wage earners. For a Mechanical 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 ($11,285) accounts for 63% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $6,761 (37%), and state tax the remaining $0 (0%).
South Dakota sits near the bottom (#44 of 51) for Mechanical Engineers after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $70,334 net/year works out to $5,861/month or $2,705/bi-weekly for this Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Mechanical Engineers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Dakota ranks #44 out of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers after-tax take-home pay.
A Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota earning a median salary of $88,380 will take home approximately $70,334 per year after federal income tax ($11,284), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($6,761). That is $5,861 per month or $2,705 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota is 20.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 12.8%, 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 Mechanical 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 20.4%.
After all taxes, a Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota takes home approximately $5,861 per month, or about $33.81 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 $88,380 for Mechanical 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 — $70,334/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