Salaries › Software QA Tester › South Dakota
Software QA Tester Salary in South Dakota (2026)
$32.75 per hour · take-home ≈ $56,752/year ($4,729/month) for a single filer
South Dakota ranks 44th of 48 states for Software QA Tester pay, with a median about 38% below the national average. Of the 220 Software QA Tester jobs BLS counts in South Dakota, the typical worker earns $68,120 a year — though pay ranges from $47,670 for newcomers to $104,840 at the top.
Software QA Tester pay range in South Dakota
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $47,670 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $55,400 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $68,120 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $84,950 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $104,840 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 220 Software QA Tester jobs in South Dakota (occupation code 15-1253, “Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Dakota
A median Software QA Tester salary of $68,120 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 $56,752 — an effective tax rate of 16.7%.
| Gross (median) | $68,120 |
| Federal income tax | −$6,156 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,211 |
| South Dakota state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $56,752 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,729 |
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 Software QA Tester make in South Dakota?
- The median Software QA Tester salary in South Dakota is $68,120 per year ($32.75 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $55,400 and $84,950.
- What is the take-home pay for a Software QA Tester in South Dakota?
- On the median salary of $68,120, a single filer in South Dakota takes home about $56,752 per year ($4,729 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 16.7%.
- How many Software QA Tester jobs are there in South Dakota?
- BLS counts 220 Software QA Tester jobs in South Dakota in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Software QA Testers
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.