PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota lawmakers are expected to receive a pay increase next year, with legislative salaries rising about three percent to nearly $16,500 for the 2027 session.
Under state law, legislator pay is tied to 20 percent of South Dakota’s median household income. Lawmakers earned $15,970 during this year’s session and are set to receive $16,492 next year.
In addition to their salaries, legislators may receive mileage reimbursements, daily living allowances during sessions and committee meetings, and reimbursement for out-of-state conference travel expenses.
According to data from the Legislative Research Council, the average total payout per lawmaker during the last fiscal year was nearly $26,800 when those additional expenses were included. Overall, the state spent nearly $3 million on legislative compensation and reimbursements during fiscal year 2026.
