Salaries › School Counselor › South Dakota
School Counselor Salary in South Dakota (2026)
$24.92 per hour · take-home ≈ $43,825/year ($3,652/month) for a single filer
School Counselor pay range in South Dakota
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $41,560 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $46,550 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $51,830 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $60,080 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $65,990 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 1,000 School Counselor jobs in South Dakota (occupation code 21-1012, “Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors”).
Gross vs. take-home in South Dakota
A median School Counselor salary of $51,830 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 $43,825 — an effective tax rate of 15.4%.
| Gross (median) | $51,830 |
| Federal income tax | −$4,040 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,965 |
| South Dakota state income tax | −$0 |
| Take-home (annual) | $43,825 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,652 |
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 School Counselor make in South Dakota?
- The median School Counselor salary in South Dakota is $51,830 per year ($24.92 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $46,550 and $60,080.
- What is the take-home pay for a School Counselor in South Dakota?
- On the median salary of $51,830, a single filer in South Dakota takes home about $43,825 per year ($3,652 per month) after federal tax, FICA — an effective tax rate of 15.4%.
- How many School Counselor jobs are there in South Dakota?
- BLS counts 1,000 School Counselor jobs in South Dakota in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for School Counselors
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.