Firefighter Salary in South Dakota (2026)
The average Firefighter in South Dakota earns around $80,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $65,110/year ($5,426/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $65,110 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $5,426 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $2,504 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $31/hr |
Federal Tax | $8,770 |
State Tax | $0 |
FICA Taxes | $6,120 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 18.61% |
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Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator →
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Firefighter Salary Ranges in South Dakota
Not all Firefighters earn the same — not even close
South Dakota's firefighter market is anchored by Sioux Falls Fire Rescue (~210 sworn + IAFF Local 814 + the largest SD career fire department + the substantial post-2020 Sioux Falls growth response), Rapid City Fire Department (~125 sworn + IAFF Local 1040 + the substantial Rapid City Black Hills response + the substantial Sturgis Motorcycle Rally response), Aberdeen Fire + Brookings Fire + Watertown Fire + Yankton Fire + Pierre Fire Department + Spearfish Fire, the substantial Black Hills wildfire response (the substantial US Forest Service Black Hills National Forest + BLM SD + South Dakota Wildland Fire Division + the substantial post-2024 SD wildfire season + the substantial Black Hills + Custer State Park + Pine Ridge fire), Ellsworth AFB Fire Department federal civilian fire + 28th Bomb Wing + post-2024 B-21 Raider facility fire, the substantial Indian Health Service IHS SD reservation fire (Pine Ridge + Rosebud + Cheyenne River + Standing Rock), plus SDRS South Dakota Retirement System pension.
Senior Captain / Battalion Chief (SFFR / RCFD)
$78,000–$125,000+ OT
Senior officer at Sioux Falls Fire Rescue + Rapid City Fire · IAFF leadership + OBBBA OT
Senior Firefighter (Step 10+ / SFFR / RCFD)
$55,000–$82,000+ OT
Senior FF at SD career fire departments · top-of-scale + OT premium
Senior Paramedic-Firefighter
$65,000–$95,000+ OT
Dual-cert FF/Paramedic · SFFR + RCFD + Aberdeen · NREMT-Paramedic credential
Senior Wildland Firefighter / Hotshot
$55,000–$95,000+ OT + hazard
US Forest Service Black Hills + BLM SD + SD Wildland Fire Division · hotshot + crew
Senior ARFF (FSD / RAP)
$62,000–$92,000+ OT
Sioux Falls Regional + Rapid City Regional Airport ARFF · IAFF represented
Senior Federal Firefighter (Ellsworth AFB)
$72,000–$108,000+ OT
Ellsworth AFB federal civilian + cleared premium · 28th BW + post-2024 B-21 Raider
Senior IHS Reservation Firefighter
$58,000–$88,000+ OT
Pine Ridge + Rosebud + Cheyenne River + Standing Rock + the substantial IHS reservation fire
Senior Black Hills Wildfire Response
$58,000–$92,000+ OT + hazard
Black Hills National Forest + Custer State Park + the substantial Black Hills wildfire response
Senior Fire Inspector / Prevention
$58,000–$82,000
Fire prevention bureau · plan review + inspection + arson investigation · NFPA inspector
New Career Firefighter (Step 1-4)
$42,000–$58,000+ OT
New career FF · SDRS membership at hire · Step 1-4 band
Worth knowing: Black Hills wildfire response + the substantial Black Hills National Forest + Custer State Park wildfire is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state wildland-urban interface firefighter anchor and a feature most national firefighter surveys understate for SD. The substantial Black Hills wildfire response (the substantial Black Hills National Forest ~1.25M acres + Custer State Park ~71K acres + the substantial post-2024 SD wildfire season + the substantial Black Hills mountain pine beetle + the substantial Black Hills wildland-urban interface response in the substantial Rapid City + Spearfish + Hot Springs + Custer growth corridor + the substantial US Forest Service Black Hills + BLM SD + South Dakota Wildland Fire Division Pierre coordination + the substantial Black Hills smokejumper support + the substantial Powder River Training Complex wildfire activity in adjacent SD-WY) supports substantial SD wildland firefighter work. Senior SD wildland firefighters + USFS hotshots clear $55-95K + hazard pay. Sioux Falls Fire Rescue + Rapid City Fire Department + the substantial Sturgis Motorcycle Rally annual ~500K+ visitor fire + EMS response + Ellsworth AFB federal civilian fire + post-2024 B-21 Raider facility fire + the substantial IHS reservation fire at Pine Ridge + Rosebud + Cheyenne River + Standing Rock. SDRS Tier 1 + Generational Tier 2 hybrid pension. The 2025 No Tax on Overtime federal deduction applies through 2028. SD 0% state income tax + SD RTW since 1946 anchor the SD firefighter proposition.
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More on South Dakota
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for South Dakota in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for South Dakota in 2026.
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