Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Public Safety Telecommunicators actually take home in South Dakota?
No state income tax — 15.5% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Public Safety Telecommunicators earning $47,900 in South Dakota (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $47,900 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,764 | 7.9% |
| South Dakota State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,969 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$694 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,428 | 15.5% |
| Take-Home Pay | $40,471 | 84.5% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Public Safety Telecommunicators in South Dakota.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $36,960 | -$5,278 | $31,681 | 14.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $41,570 | -$6,184 | $35,385 | 14.9% |
| Median (P50) | $47,900 | -$7,428 | $40,471 | 15.5% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $54,290 | -$8,683 | $45,606 | 16.0% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $60,310 | -$9,866 | $50,443 | 16.4% |
South Dakota has no state income tax, which means a Public Safety Telecommunicators keeps $40,471 of their $47,900 salary — 84.5% 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 Public Safety Telecommunicators in South Dakota faces an effective total tax rate of only 15.5%, keeping 84.5% of every gross dollar. That leaves $40,472 net out of $47,900 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 Public Safety Telecommunicators, 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 Public Safety Telecommunicators salary is $3,764 (51%), but combined state ($0, 0%) + FICA ($3,664, 49%) make up the other 49% of the bill.
South Dakota ranks #33 of 51 states for Public Safety Telecommunicators after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $40,472 net/year works out to $3,373/month or $1,557/bi-weekly for this Public Safety Telecommunicators in South Dakota — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Public Safety Telecommunicators keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Dakota ranks #33 out of 51 states for Public Safety Telecommunicators after-tax take-home pay.
A Public Safety Telecommunicators in South Dakota earning a median salary of $47,900 will take home approximately $40,471 per year after federal income tax ($3,764), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($3,664). That is $3,372 per month or $1,556 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Public Safety Telecommunicators in South Dakota is 15.5%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.9%, 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 Public Safety Telecommunicators 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 15.5%.
After all taxes, a Public Safety Telecommunicators in South Dakota takes home approximately $3,372 per month, or about $19.46 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 $47,900 for Public Safety Telecommunicators 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 — $40,471/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