Salaries › Cook › South Dakota
Cook Salary in South Dakota (2026)
$17.42 per hour · take-home ≈ $31,283/year ($2,607/month) for a single filer
Cook pay range in South Dakota
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $30,140 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $33,040 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $36,220 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $38,910 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $44,990 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,890 Cook jobs in South Dakota (occupation code 35-2014, “Cooks, Restaurant”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Dakota
A median Cook salary of $36,220 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 $31,283 — an effective tax rate of 13.6%.
| Gross (median) | $36,220 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,166 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,771 |
| South Dakota state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $31,283 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,607 |
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 Cook make in South Dakota?
- The median Cook salary in South Dakota is $36,220 per year ($17.42 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $33,040 and $38,910.
- What is the take-home pay for a Cook in South Dakota?
- On the median salary of $36,220, a single filer in South Dakota takes home about $31,283 per year ($2,607 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 13.6%.
- How many Cook jobs are there in South Dakota?
- BLS counts 1,890 Cook jobs in South Dakota in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for 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.