Salaries › Cafeteria Cook › South Dakota
Cafeteria Cook Salary in South Dakota (2026)
$17.66 per hour · take-home ≈ $31,693/year ($2,641/month) for a single filer
South Dakota ranks 29th of 51 states for Cafeteria Cook pay, with a median about 3% below the national average. Of the 2,120 Cafeteria Cook jobs BLS counts in South Dakota, the typical worker earns $36,730 a year — though pay ranges from $30,140 for newcomers to $45,650 at the top.
Cafeteria Cook pay range in South Dakota
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $30,140 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $32,200 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,730 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $40,980 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $45,650 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 2,120 Cafeteria Cook jobs in South Dakota (occupation code 35-2012, “Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Dakota
A median Cafeteria Cook salary of $36,730 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare (no state income tax in South Dakota), a single filer keeps about $31,693 — an effective tax rate of 13.7%.
| Gross (median) | $36,730 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,228 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,810 |
| South Dakota state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $31,693 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,641 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free South Dakota paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Cafeteria Cook make in South Dakota?
- The median Cafeteria Cook salary in South Dakota is $36,730 per year ($17.66 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $32,200 and $40,980.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cafeteria Cook in South Dakota?
- On the median salary of $36,730, a single filer in South Dakota takes home about $31,693 per year ($2,641 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 13.7%.
- How many Cafeteria Cook jobs are there in South Dakota?
- BLS counts 2,120 Cafeteria Cook jobs in South Dakota in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Cafeteria Cooks
Other salaries in South Dakota
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified South Dakota state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for South Dakota.