Travel Nurse Pay in South Dakota

Discover average travel nurse pay rates, stipends, and take-home calculations for South Dakota. Use our free calculator below to estimate your earnings.

Data reviewed July 3, 2026 · 50 states, 221 cities, FY2026 GSA rates

Pay figures on this page are our own editorial estimates, reviewed July 31, 2026 — not survey or government wage data. How we produce these numbers.

Calculate Your Pay in South Dakota

Use our calculator to estimate your take-home pay in South Dakota, including cost of living analysis to see your true discretionary income.

Travel Nurse Pay Breakdown

Estimate your take-home pay, taxes, and blended rate in seconds.

Excellent: Your housing stipend matches or exceeds the highest GSA lodging ceiling for South Dakota ($1,106/week). This is the maximum tax-free amount.
Effective Tax Rate17.9%
Federal income tax (2026 brackets)$147/wk
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)$110/wk
State income tax$0

Federal tax applies to wages after the $16,100 standard deduction; FICA applies to all wages. Tax-free stipends are excluded from both.

Same-state assignment, and SD levies no wage income tax, so no state income tax return is due on these wages.

Overtime (Optional)

Blended Hourly Rate

$85.11

Based on 36 hours in SD.

Gross Weekly Pay

$3,064

Taxable Weekly Income

$1,440

Estimated Weekly Taxes

$257

True Net Weekly Pay

$2,807

Assignment Projections

13-Week Assignment

$36,489

Net Pay

26-Week Assignment

$72,978

Net Pay

Annual (52 weeks)

$145,956

Net Pay

Take Home vs Taxes

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Take Home

$2,807

per week

Taxes

$257

per week

Total Gross: $3,064 per week

🏠 Housing Stipend Analysis

Your Weekly Housing Stipend

$1,106

$4,789/month

Est. 1BR Rent in South Dakota

$850

Monthly average

Potential Tax-Free Pocket Money

+$3,939

Your stipend covers rent with $3,939 left over each month.

Find apartments under $850/month in Sioux Falls:

We may earn a commission if you book through our link.

Cost of Living Analysis in South Dakota

Monthly Net Income:$12,154
Average 1BR Rent:$850
True Discretionary Income:$11,304

After rent, this is what you'll have left each month for other expenses

Cost of Living Index:99.0

National average = 100. South Dakota's cost of living is lower than the national average by 1.0 points.

Housing Cost: Moderate

Utilities: Low

Rent figures are our own editorial estimates, not survey or listings data. Actual rent varies by neighborhood and housing type.

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Average Travel Nurse Pay in South Dakota

These are average pay rates for travel nurses in South Dakota. Actual pay varies by specialty, experience, and facility. Use our pay calculator to estimate your specific take-home pay.

Hourly Rate

$40/hr

Weekly Gross

$1,600

Annual

$83,200

GSA Per Diem Rates for South Dakota

Lodging

$158/night

Meals

$74/day

Incidentals

$/day

These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts for travel nurses in South Dakota.

Tax Information for South Dakota

State Income Tax None
Tax-Friendly for Travel Nurses Yes

Cost of Living in South Dakota

Cost of Living Index

99

Below national average

Housing

Moderate

Utilities

Low

Travel Nurse Pay Data — SD

Data Source: This data is aggregated from anonymous submissions by travel nurses. Data is updated regularly as more submissions are received. Sample sizes are shown for each category.

Note: These are averages and should be used as general guidance. Actual pay varies by facility, experience, and contract terms.

Average Hourly Rate

$53/hr

↑ $2 from previous period

Average Weekly Pay

$2,120

Based on 36-hour contracts

Total Submissions

230+

Anonymous data points

Average Pay by Specialty

ICU

$55/hr

n=45 submissions

ER

$54/hr

n=42 submissions

OR

$56/hr

n=38 submissions

Med-Surg

$48/hr

n=52 submissions

Labor & Delivery

$52/hr

n=28 submissions

PACU

$53/hr

n=25 submissions

SD vs. Top States

Detailed submission data for SD is still building. National averages shown below. Submit your SD pay data to help.
CA

$58/hr

n=78 submissions

NY

$59/hr

n=65 submissions

TX

$51/hr

n=82 submissions

FL

$50/hr

n=71 submissions

WA

$57/hr

n=48 submissions

MA

$58/hr

n=42 submissions

More Visualizations Coming Soon

  • Pay trends over time
  • City-specific pay data
  • Experience level comparisons
  • Contract type analysis (13-week, 26-week, etc.)
  • Interactive filters and comparisons

As we collect more anonymous salary data, we'll add more detailed visualizations and insights.Submit your pay data to help build this database.

Popular Cities for Travel Nurses in South Dakota

These are the most popular cities for travel nurse assignments in South Dakota. Click on any city to see detailed pay information, cost of living, and job opportunities. Use our state comparison tool to compare pay across different states.

View all state pay guides or search for specific cities using our calculator.

South Dakota Pay by Nursing Specialty

Pay varies significantly by specialty. Select a specialty to see detailed salary data for South Dakota:

View all specialties →

Top Hospitals in South Dakota

  • Sanford USD Medical Center
  • Avera McKennan Hospital
  • Rapid City Regional Hospital

Nursing License Requirements for South Dakota

Nurse Licensure Compact Yes
License Cost $200
Processing Time 2-4 weeks

Cost of Living in South Dakota

Average 1BR Rent

$850/mo

Cost of Living Index

99

National avg = 100

Housing Cost

Moderate

Tip: Use our pay calculator to see how your take-home pay compares to the cost of living in South Dakota. Consider that rent in South Dakota is lower than the national average.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do travel nurses make in South Dakota?

Travel nurses in South Dakota typically earn between $35 and $50 per hour in taxable wages, with an average of $40/hr. When including tax-free stipends, the blended hourly rate ranges from $46-61 per hour.

What are the GSA rates for South Dakota?

The GSA per diem rates for South Dakota are: Lodging: $158/night, Meals: $74/day, and Incidentals: $undefined/day. These rates determine the maximum tax-free stipend amounts travel nurses can receive. For official rates, visit [GSA.gov](https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates).

Is South Dakota tax-friendly for travel nurses?

South Dakota has no state income tax, making it relatively tax-friendly for travel nurses. However, you'll still pay federal taxes on your taxable wages.

What is the cost of living in South Dakota?

The cost of living index in South Dakota is 99, which is below the national average. Housing costs are moderate, and utilities are low.

Do I need a separate license to work in South Dakota?

South Dakota is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so if you have a compact license, you can work here without additional licensing. The license costs $200 and typically takes 2-4 weeks to process.

Resources for South Dakota