How much does a Recreational Therapists actually take home in South Dakota?
No state income tax — 15.6% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2024 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-04-02
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Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Recreational Therapists earning $49,420 in South Dakota (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $49,420 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,946 | 8.0% |
| South Dakota State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,064 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$716 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,727 | 15.6% |
| Take-Home Pay | $41,692 | 84.4% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Recreational Therapists in South Dakota.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $41,820 | -$6,233 | $35,586 | 14.9% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $46,390 | -$7,131 | $39,258 | 15.4% |
| Median (P50) | $49,420 | -$7,727 | $41,692 | 15.6% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $57,200 | -$9,255 | $47,944 | 16.2% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $80,620 | -$15,744 | $64,875 | 19.5% |
South Dakota has no state income tax, which means a Recreational Therapists keeps $41,692 of their $49,420 salary — 84.4% 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.
Where does a Recreational Therapists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Dakota ranks #23 out of 45 states for Recreational Therapists after-tax take-home pay.
A Recreational Therapists in South Dakota earning a median salary of $49,420 will take home approximately $41,692 per year after federal income tax ($3,946), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($3,780). That is $3,474 per month or $1,603 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Recreational Therapists in South Dakota is 15.6%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.0%, 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 Recreational Therapists 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 15.6%.
After all taxes, a Recreational Therapists in South Dakota takes home approximately $3,474 per month, or about $20.04 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 2024 BLS median salary of $49,420 for Recreational Therapists 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 — $41,692/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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