South Dakota child support calculator (2026 guidelines)
South Dakota guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Change state
For 2 children, with Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, South Dakota's guideline amount is $1,025 a month (Parent A pays Parent B).
South Dakota uses the income shares model; its current guidelines took effect January 1, 2026.
This is the guideline amount, not a court order.
Calculate your South Dakota guideline amount
Guideline child support
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South Dakota child support at a glance
| Children | $30,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 child | $425 | $624 | $815 | $1,010 |
| 2 children | $626 | $922 | $1,196 | $1,475 |
| 3 children | $742 | $1,081 | $1,391 | $1,708 |
| 4 children | $829 | $1,208 | $1,554 | $1,908 |
| 5 children | $926 | $1,349 | $1,736 | $2,131 |
How South Dakota calculates child support
South Dakota uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the support for the parents' combined monthly net income, and the noncustodial parent's share of it, by percentage of combined income, is the order.
Net income is gross income minus federal income tax at the single rate for a monthly payroll period, Social Security and Medicare, retirement plan contributions up to 10% of gross income, work expenses an employer doesn't repay, and payments on other support orders. South Dakota has no income tax. A parent is presumed able to earn at least the state minimum wage of $11.85 an hour for 1,820 hours a year.
With a shared parenting plan of at least 180 nights a year in each home, the court may grant a cross credit: the schedule amount is increased by half, shared by income, and each parent's share is multiplied by the other parent's share of the nights, then offset. A partial abatement for six or more nights a month is up to the court and isn't estimated.
The emboldened low-income part of the schedule includes a self-support reserve of $871 a month. When the paying parent's own income falls there, the order is the lesser of the schedule amount on that income alone and the parent's share on both incomes.
The children's health insurance is shared by income, with a credit for the parent who pays it, and a parent's share is limited to 8% of their net income. Child care, less a federal credit counted at 25% of the eligible expense, and uninsured health costs above $250 per child a year are shared the same way.
Payments on other support orders are deducted from income. Other children a parent supports are only a reason the court may consider for a deviation.
Above $30,000 of combined net income a month, the court sets support at an appropriate level for the child's needs and standard of living; this estimate shows the top of the schedule.
Amounts are worked in whole dollars and each parent's share of income in whole percentages, as on the DSS calculator.
Parenting time in South Dakota
With a shared parenting plan of at least 180 nights a year in each home, the court may grant a cross credit: the schedule amount is increased by half, shared by income, and each parent's share is multiplied by the other parent's share of the nights, then offset. A partial abatement for six or more nights a month is up to the court and isn't estimated.
| Overnights with Parent A | Guideline amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $1,025 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 52 | $1,025 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 104 | $1,025 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 128 | $1,025 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
| 182 (about equal) | $238 a month | Parent A pays Parent B |
Low and high incomes in South Dakota
For 2 children with Parent B earning $40,000, the guideline amount is about $485 a month when Parent A earns $20,000 a year and about $2,874 a month when Parent A earns $250,000.
The emboldened low-income part of the schedule includes a self-support reserve of $871 a month. When the paying parent's own income falls there, the order is the lesser of the schedule amount on that income alone and the parent's share on both incomes.
Above $30,000 of combined net income a month, the court sets support at an appropriate level for the child's needs and standard of living; this estimate shows the top of the schedule.
Child support by number of children in South Dakota
- 1 child$697 a month
- 2 children$1,025 a month
- 3 children$1,204 a month
- 4 children$1,345 a month
- 5 children$1,503 a month
Parent A earns $60,000, Parent B $40,000; the children live mostly with Parent B.
Official sources and verification
- Law: SDCL §§ 25-7-6.1 to 25-7-6.29
- South Dakota child support guidelines
- Child Support Obligation Worksheet Based on Income Shares (SE481A)
- Official South Dakota child support calculator
- South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support
- Changing a South Dakota child support order
Guidelines effective January 1, 2026. Verified against the official South Dakota sources on October 7, 2026. How we calculate →
Frequently asked questions
How is child support calculated in South Dakota?
South Dakota uses the income shares model: the schedule gives the support for the parents' combined monthly net income, and the noncustodial parent's share of it, by percentage of combined income, is the order. Net income is gross income minus federal income tax at the single rate for a monthly payroll period, Social Security and Medicare, retirement plan contributions up to 10% of gross income, work expenses an employer doesn't repay, and payments on other support orders. South Dakota has no income tax. A parent is presumed able to earn at least the state minimum wage of $11.85 an hour for 1,820 hours a year.
What is the child support for one child in South Dakota on $50,000?
If Parent A earns $50,000 a year, Parent B earns $40,000 and the child lives mostly with Parent B, South Dakota's guideline amount for one child is about $624 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). Courts can deviate from the guideline amount.
Does 50/50 custody mean no child support in South Dakota?
Not necessarily. With about equal parenting time, 2 children, Parent A earning $60,000 and Parent B $40,000, the guideline amount is about $238 a month (Parent A pays Parent B). With a shared parenting plan of at least 180 nights a year in each home, the court may grant a cross credit: the schedule amount is increased by half, shared by income, and each parent's share is multiplied by the other parent's share of the nights, then offset. A partial abatement for six or more nights a month is up to the court and isn't estimated.
What is the minimum child support in South Dakota?
The emboldened low-income part of the schedule includes a self-support reserve of $871 a month. When the paying parent's own income falls there, the order is the lesser of the schedule amount on that income alone and the parent's share on both incomes.
When does child support end in South Dakota?
In South Dakota, parents must support a child until the child turns 18, or until 19 if the child is a full-time student in a secondary school. Most orders state one amount for all the children, so the amount stays the same when the oldest child turns 18 until the order is modified. We didn't locate an official source on support for college or for a disabled adult child.