Minimum wage in South Dakota in 2027
$11.85 per hour1
per hourGeneral rate from January 1, 2026
No scheduled increase on record.
Year 2027
Rates in force during 2027
| Applies to | Rate | Effective | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
StandardSource: S.D. Codified Laws § 60-11-3The minimum wage for non-tipped employees in South Dakota is $11.85/hour. (Effective Jan. 1, 2026.)
Verified September 26, 2026 | $11.85January 1, 2026 – current | January 1, 2026 | current |
BLS · May 2025
How the minimum compares with typical pay in South Dakota
52%of the median hourly wage
The median hourly wage across all occupations in South Dakota is $22.63 and the mean is $27.70 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates). The minimum wage of $11.85 is 52% of the median; the 10th-percentile wage is $14.09, so roughly the lowest-paid tenth of workers earn within $2.24 of the minimum. BLS
| Applies to | Rate |
|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $11.85 |
| 10th percentile | $14.09 |
| 25th percentile | $17.32 |
| Median | $22.63 |
| Mean | $27.70 |
8 rules · September 27, 2026
Labor law basics in South Dakota
What the law adds on top of the hourly rate. Follow the citation for exceptions.
Pay frequency
Employers must pay all wages due at least once each calendar month, or on regular agreed paydays designated in advance.
Source: S.D. Codified Laws § 60-11-9
Every employer shall pay all wages due to employees at least once each calendar month unless otherwise provided by law, or on regular agreed pay days designated in advance by the employer, in lawful money of the United States.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Final paycheck
When an employee leaves the payroll, unpaid wages are due by the next regular payday, or as soon after that as the employee returns all employer property.
Source: S.D. Codified Laws § 60-11-10
Whenever an employer separates an employee from the payroll, the unpaid wages or compensation of such employee are due and payable not later than the next regular stated pay day for which those hours would have normally been paid or as soon thereafter as the employee returns to the employer all property of the employer in the employee's possession.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Tips
Employers claiming a tip credit must pay tipped employees (those customarily receiving more than $35 a month in tips) a cash wage of at least 50% of the minimum wage and make up any shortfall if tips plus wages fall below the minimum wage. (tipped employees)
Source: S.D. Codified Laws § 60-11-3.1
Any employer of a tipped employee shall pay a cash wage of not less than fifty percent of the minimum wage provided by § 60-11-3 if the employer claims a tip credit against the employer's minimum wage obligation. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's cash wage of not less than fifty percent of the minimum wage provided by § 60-11-3 do not equal the minimum wage, the employer shall make up the difference as additional wages for each regular pay period of the employer. A tipped employee is one engaged in an occupation in which the employee customarily and regularly receives more than thirty-five dollars a month in tips or other considerations.
- Source
- statute
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Young workers' hours
Children under 16 may not work more than 4 hours on a school day or 20 hours in a school week, more than 8 hours on a non-school day or 40 hours in a non-school week, or later than 10 p.m. on a school night, and under-14s may not work during school hours or after 7 p.m. (children under 16)
Source: S.D. Codified Laws ch. 60-12
Children younger than 16 years may not be employed: In any occupation dangerous to life, health or morals* For more than four hours per school day or 20 hours per school week* For more than eight hours per non-school day or 40 hours per non-school week* Later than 10 p.m. on a school night* Furthermore, children younger than 14 years may not be employed: During school hours Later than 7 p.m.*
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
- Notes
- Stricter federal limits apply to employers covered by the FLSA.
Verified September 27, 2026
Recovering unpaid wages
Workers can file a wage dispute with the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, including unpaid wages or pay below minimum wage, using the Claim of Unpaid Wages form.
Source: S.D. Codified Laws ch. 60-11
You can file a wage dispute, including claim of unpaid wages (wages owed) or not being paid at least minimum wage, by completing the Claim of Unpaid Wages form.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 27, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Overtime
Covered non-exempt employees must be paid at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek; federal law sets no daily overtime and no weekend or holiday premium. (non-exempt employees covered by the FLSA)
Source: 29 U.S.C. § 207
Unless specifically exempted, employees covered by the Act must receive overtime pay for hours worked in excess of 40 in a workweek at a rate not less than time and one-half their regular rates of pay. There is no limit in the Act on the number of hours employees aged 16 and older may work in any workweek. The Act does not require overtime pay for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or regular days of rest, as such.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
Verified September 26, 2026
Overtime-exempt salary threshold
Executive, administrative and professional employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime only if they meet the duties tests and are paid a salary of at least $684 per week ($35,568 a year). (executive, administrative, professional and outside sales employees)
Source: 29 C.F.R. Part 541
To qualify for exemption, employees generally must meet certain tests regarding their job duties and be paid on a salary basis at not less than $684 per week.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The 2024 rule raising the level to $844/$1,128 was vacated in November 2024; DOL enforces the 2019 level of $684.
Verified September 26, 2026
Required poster
Employers whose employees are covered by the FLSA minimum wage provisions must post, and keep posted, a notice explaining the Act in a conspicuous place in all of their establishments. (employers covered by the FLSA)
Source: 29 U.S.C. § 207
Every employer of employees subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage provisions must post, and keep posted, a notice explaining the Act in a conspicuous place in all of their establishments.
- Source
- agency page
- snapshot
- September 26, 2026
- Notes
- The notice DOL publishes for this purpose is the FLSA minimum wage poster (WH-1088), free from the WHD posters page.
Verified September 26, 2026
$11.85 / hour
Calculators
Estimates before tax at this rate. Nothing you type leaves this page.
What this wage pays
| Weekly | $474.00 |
|---|---|
| Monthly52 weeks ÷ 12 | $2,054.00 |
| Annual52 weeks | $24,648.00 |
| Overtime rate1.5× where overtime applies | $17.78 |
4 questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in South Dakota in 2027?
$11.85 per hour since January 1, 2026. For a 40-hour week that is about $474.00 a week or $24,648.00 a year before tax.
Is the minimum wage in South Dakota increasing?
No increase is scheduled on record as of October 1, 2026. Inflation-indexed jurisdictions announce the next figure a few months before it takes effect.
Is there a lower tipped minimum wage in South Dakota?
No separate tipped rate is on record for South Dakota; tipped employees are owed the full $11.85 per hour before tips, unless a higher-level rule sets one.
How does South Dakota compare with other states?
South Dakota's $11.85 ranks 26 of 51 state general rates, against a federal floor of $7.25.
2 levels of law
How this rate is resolved
The highest minimum that covers the work location applies.
Employers must pay the highest minimum that covers the work location. WageTable checks each level in turn:
- United States
- South Dakota
South Dakota sets 1 rule of its own.
Notes on this jurisdiction's rules and sources
S.D. Codified Laws § 60-11-3 (Initiated Measure 18, 2014) with annual CPI-U adjustment each January 1 (§ 60-11-3.2); DLR publishes the next year's rate by October 15, so the 2027 rate is not yet published as of 2026-09-26. Tipped cash wage is 50% of the rate (§ 60-11-3.1). The opportunity wage for under-20s (§ 60-11-4.1) follows the federal youth wage and is not duplicated here. Rates before 2026 are not in the cited sources.
South Dakota
Enforcement
Enforced by South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Labor and Management. Employers must display the official minimum wage poster.
Underpaid?File a wage claim