Healthcare

Veterinarian Salary in South Dakota (2026)

The average Veterinarian in South Dakota earns around $130,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $100,121/year ($8,343/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

CategoryAmount
Annual Take-Home Pay
$100,121
Monthly Take-Home Pay
$8,343
Biweekly Take-Home Pay
$3,851
Hourly Take-Home Pay

based on 2,080 hrs/year

$48/hr
Federal Tax
$19,934
State Tax
$0
FICA Taxes
$9,945
Effective Tax Rate

total taxes ÷ gross salary

22.98%
Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

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Veterinarian Salary Ranges in South Dakota

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$95,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$130,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$185,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Not all Veterinarians earn the same — not even close

South Dakota's veterinary market is anchored by South Dakota State University Animal Sciences Brookings (the substantial SDSU Animal Science + the substantial SDSU veterinary partnership with UMN College of Veterinary Medicine + SDSU-UMN 2+2 DVM program ~25 DVMs annually + the substantial SDSU Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences) — SD has NO in-state DVM-granting institution (closest: UMN St Paul + Iowa State Ames + Colorado State Fort Collins + WSU Pullman), the substantial SD cattle + ranching veterinary (SD #5 US beef cow inventory + the substantial SD cattle ranching + the substantial Western SD ranching DVM + the substantial USDA-APHIS SD), Banfield Pet Hospital SD + VCA Animal Hospitals SD (Mars Veterinary Health corporate), the substantial SD independent veterinary practice, plus the substantial SD #1 US sunflower + flaxseed + ag veterinary.

Senior Practice Owner / Equity Partner

$155,000–$315,000+ profit

Independent + equity-partner DVM · the substantial SD mixed + companion + ranch practice

Senior Large Animal / Ranch Vet

$118,000–$172,000+ truck

Large animal DVM · SD cattle + ranching + the substantial Western SD ranch DVM + USDA-APHIS

Senior Specialist Vet (Surgery / Internal Med)

$148,000–$235,000+ bonus

Board-certified specialist · the substantial SD specialty referral · DACVS + DACVIM

Senior Emergency / Critical Care Vet

$135,000–$215,000+ bonus

Emergency + critical care DVM · the substantial SD 24/7 ER referral · DACVECC

Senior Equine Vet

$108,000–$165,000+ bonus

Equine DVM · the substantial SD ranch + rodeo equine market

Senior Companion Animal Vet (Banfield / VCA)

$105,000–$155,000+ bonus

Banfield + VCA SD corporate veterinary · Mars Veterinary Health

Senior Federal Civilian Vet (USDA / APHIS)

$108,000–$162,000

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service + USDA-APHIS · meatpacking + animal health

Senior SDSU Animal Science Faculty

$98,000–$148,000+ bonus

SDSU Animal Science Brookings · the substantial SDSU-UMN DVM partnership faculty

Mid-Career Vet (3-7 yrs)

$88,000–$118,000

Associate DVM at SD practices · transitioning to senior band

New Vet (Step 1-3)

$75,000–$105,000

New grad DVM at SD corporate + private + UMN + ISU + CSU placement · entry band

Worth knowing: South Dakota cattle + ranching veterinary + the substantial Western SD ranch DVM is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state large-animal ranch veterinary anchor and a feature most national veterinary surveys understate for SD. The substantial SD cattle + ranching veterinary (SD #5 US beef cow inventory + ~3.7M cattle + ~14K SD ranches + the substantial Western SD ranch DVM + the substantial Black Hills + Badlands + Missouri River cattle ranching + the substantial SD ranch DVM serving substantial cow-calf + feeder + cattle operations + the substantial USDA-APHIS SD veterinary inspection + the substantial USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service SD meatpacking inspection serving Smithfield Sioux Falls pork + IBP + JBS SD beef processing) supports substantial SD large-animal DVM. Senior large animal + ranch DVMs clear $118-172K+ truck. SDSU Animal Sciences Brookings + the substantial SDSU-UMN College of Veterinary Medicine 2+2 DVM partnership ~25 DVMs annually + SDSU Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences supply SD DVM pipeline. SD has NO in-state DVM-granting institution (closest: UMN St Paul + Iowa State Ames + Colorado State Fort Collins + WSU Pullman). Banfield + VCA SD + the substantial SD independent practice + USDA-APHIS federal civilian. SD 0% state income tax + SD RTW since 1946 anchor the SD veterinary proposition.

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