Payroll Specialist salary and cost of hiring in South Dakota
The median payroll specialist in South Dakota earned $47,680 a year in May 2025[1], 18.2% below the US median of $58,260. That puts South Dakota at #47 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 43-3051. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $38,780 | $47,680 | $64,350 | |
| United States | $39,500 | $58,260 | $81,350 |
The middle half of payroll specialists in South Dakota earns $43,350–$56,520; the top tenth earns $64,350 or more, 1.7 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the South Dakota median that makes about $68,114 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for payroll specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in South Dakota
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $56,580 | 120 | |
| West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $62,930 | 50 | |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $53,930 | 110 | |
| Rapid City, SD | $53,560 | 70 |
Sioux Falls, SD-MN pays the most ($49,790) and Rapid City, SD the least ($46,060): $3,730 a year apart for the same job.
What a payroll specialist does
A payroll specialist prepares payroll runs, checks hours and deductions, keeps employee pay records and answers staff questions about their pay.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | +5.3% | |
| Oklahoma | +4.7% | |
| South Dakota | +0.0% | |
| West Virginia | -0.5% | |
| Alabama | -3.2% |
Questions
How much does a payroll specialist earn in South Dakota?
The median was $47,680 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $43,350 to $56,520.
What does it cost to employ a payroll specialist in South Dakota?
About $68,114 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in South Dakota do payroll specialists earn the most?
Sioux Falls, SD-MN, with a median of $49,790 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes433051.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.