Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Technical Writers actually take home in South Dakota?
No state income tax — 16.8% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Technical Writers earning $63,350 in South Dakota (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $63,350 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$5,778 | 9.1% |
| South Dakota State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,927 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$918 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$10,624 | 16.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $52,725 | 83.2% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Technical Writers in South Dakota.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $49,490 | -$7,740 | $41,749 | 15.6% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $53,730 | -$8,573 | $45,156 | 16.0% |
| Median (P50) | $63,350 | -$10,624 | $52,725 | 16.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $75,500 | -$14,226 | $61,273 | 18.8% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $84,090 | -$16,773 | $67,316 | 19.9% |
South Dakota has no state income tax, which means a Technical Writers keeps $52,725 of their $63,350 salary — 83.2% 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 Technical Writers in South Dakota faces an effective total tax rate of only 16.8%, keeping 83.2% of every gross dollar. That leaves $52,726 net out of $63,350 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 Technical Writers, 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 Technical Writers salary is $5,778 (54%), but combined state ($0, 0%) + FICA ($4,846, 46%) make up the other 46% of the bill.
South Dakota sits near the bottom (#41 of 45) for Technical Writers after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $52,726 net/year works out to $4,394/month or $2,028/bi-weekly for this Technical Writers in South Dakota — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Technical Writers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
South Dakota ranks #41 out of 45 states for Technical Writers after-tax take-home pay.
A Technical Writers in South Dakota earning a median salary of $63,350 will take home approximately $52,725 per year after federal income tax ($5,778), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($4,846). That is $4,393 per month or $2,027 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Technical Writers in South Dakota is 16.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 9.1%, 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 Technical Writers 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 16.8%.
After all taxes, a Technical Writers in South Dakota takes home approximately $4,393 per month, or about $25.35 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 $63,350 for Technical Writers 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 — $52,725/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