Salaries › Legal Secretary › South Dakota
Legal Secretary Salary in South Dakota (2026)
$22.98 per hour · take-home ≈ $40,579/year ($3,382/month) for a single filer
South Dakota ranks 34th of 51 states for Legal Secretary pay, with a median about 13% below the national average. Of the 560 Legal Secretary jobs BLS counts in South Dakota, the typical worker earns $47,790 a year — though pay ranges from $37,540 for newcomers to $58,300 at the top.
Legal Secretary pay range in South Dakota
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,540 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $42,790 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $47,790 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $51,010 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $58,300 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 560 Legal Secretary jobs in South Dakota (occupation code 43-6012, “Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Dakota
A median Legal Secretary salary of $47,790 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 $40,579 — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
| Gross (median) | $47,790 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,555 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,656 |
| South Dakota state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $40,579 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,382 |
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 Legal Secretary make in South Dakota?
- The median Legal Secretary salary in South Dakota is $47,790 per year ($22.98 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $42,790 and $51,010.
- What is the take-home pay for a Legal Secretary in South Dakota?
- On the median salary of $47,790, a single filer in South Dakota takes home about $40,579 per year ($3,382 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 15.1%.
- How many Legal Secretary jobs are there in South Dakota?
- BLS counts 560 Legal Secretary jobs in South Dakota in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Legal Secretarys
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.