Montana vs South Dakota Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $2,877 more a year in South Dakota than in Montana ($240 a month).
Montana
4.7% - 5.65% state income tax
$58,715
take-home on $75,000 · $4,893/month
33rd of 51 states for take-home pay
Montana paycheck calculator ›South Dakota
No state income tax on wages
$61,592
take-home on $75,000 · $5,133/month
1st of 51 states for take-home pay
South Dakota paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in Montana and South Dakota by salary
| Salary | Montana | South Dakota | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,197 | $34,320 | $1,123 more in South Dakota |
| $50,000 | $40,762 | $42,355 | $1,593 more in South Dakota |
| $60,000 | $48,327 | $50,390 | $2,063 more in South Dakota |
| $75,000 | $58,715 | $61,592 | $2,877 more in South Dakota |
| $100,000 | $74,891 | $79,180 | $4,289 more in South Dakota |
| $125,000 | $91,001 | $96,703 | $5,702 more in South Dakota |
| $150,000 | $106,677 | $113,791 | $7,114 more in South Dakota |
| $200,000 | $138,988 | $148,927 | $9,939 more in South Dakota |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in Montana you would need about $70,900 in South Dakota; to match $75,000 in South Dakota you would need about $79,450 in Montana.
How Montana and South Dakota tax wages
| 2026 | Montana | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 2 brackets from 4.7% to 5.65% | no state income tax |
| Top rate | 5.65% | 0% |
| Standard deduction | Federal ($16,100 single) | Not applicable |
| State tax on $75k | $2,877 (3.8%) | $0 (0.0%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | No |
| Reciprocity | North Dakota | None |
| 2026 change | Montana cut its top rate from 5.9% to 5.65% for 2026 and widened the 4.7% bracket. | No rate change |
Moving between Montana and South Dakota
Moving from Montana to South Dakota
Moving to South Dakota from Minnesota raises take-home by $3,577 at $75,000, and from Iowa by $2,198, because no state income tax is withheld. You will not file a South Dakota return, but you may still owe your old state for income earned before the move. Expect sales tax on many services, and compare property tax rates by county and school district before buying.
Moving from South Dakota to Montana
Moving to Montana from Wyoming or South Dakota adds $2,877 a year in state tax at $75,000, and from North Dakota $2,695. Coming from Idaho the difference is just $10. In exchange, Montana has no sales tax and no city income tax anywhere. Montana taxes you as a part-year resident from your move date, so expect to file a Montana return for that first year.
Montana paychecks in brief
Montana cut its top income tax rate from 5.9% to 5.65% for 2026 and widened its 4.7% bracket. The state starts from federal taxable income, so the $16,100 federal standard deduction carries over. A single filer earning $75,000 pays $2,877 to Montana and takes home $58,715, or $2,258 every two weeks. Montana has no sales tax and no local income tax, but every neighboring state takes less from a paycheck, Idaho by only $10. Read the Montana guide.
South Dakota paychecks in brief
South Dakota has no personal income tax, so a paycheck carries only federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. A single filer earning $75,000 takes home $61,592 a year, or $2,369 every two weeks, which is $3,577 more than the same worker keeps in neighboring Minnesota. There is no city income tax and no state payroll program deducted from wages; the state funds itself mainly through a sales tax that also covers many services. Read the South Dakota guide.
Montana vs South Dakota: FAQ
Does Montana or South Dakota have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $2,877 more a year in South Dakota than in Montana ($240 a month). Montana has 2 brackets from 4.7% to 5.65% for 2026. For single filers the top 5.65% rate starts at $47,500 of taxable income. South Dakota has no state income tax.
What salary in South Dakota equals $75,000 in Montana?
To take home the same $58,715 that $75,000 leaves in Montana, you would need about $70,900 in South Dakota, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in South Dakota than in Montana?
At $150,000 the gap is $7,114 a year: $106,677 in Montana versus $113,791 in South Dakota. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.