South Dakota Workers' Comp Benefits (2026)
How South Dakota pays injured workers: the weekly rate while you recover, the 2026 maximum, and what each type of permanent injury is worth, with the statute behind each number.
What is different in South Dakota
PPD is paid by applying the doctor's impairment percentage to the weeks listed for the body part, or to 312 weeks for the body as a whole. Employers in South Dakota are not legally required to carry workers' compensation insurance.
Weekly benefits while you cannot work
| Weekly rate | 66.67% of AWW (AWW includes overtime hours at straight-time pay) |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | $1,152 (2026-07-01 to 2027-06-30 (FY 2027)) |
| Minimum weekly benefit | $576/week, or the worker's AWW (less standard deductions) if lower |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| Waiting days paid back after | 7 days of disability |
| Time limit on temporary benefits | No fixed week limit in statute |
Estimate your weekly check
Assumes temporary total disability and no post-injury work earnings. It does not calculate partial disability, retroactive payments, offsets or special low-wage rules. Confirm the injury date and the insurer's wage calculation.
What each injury is worth
| Injury | How it is paid | Max award |
|---|---|---|
| Back | whole-person % × 312 weeks | $35,942 (10% rating) |
| Neck | whole-person % × 312 weeks | $35,942 (10% rating) |
| Shoulder | depends on how it is rated | — |
| Knee | 160 weeks (as the leg) | $184,320 |
| Arm | 200 weeks | $230,400 |
| Hand | 150 weeks | $172,800 |
| Thumb | 50 weeks | $57,600 |
| Index Finger | 35 weeks | $40,320 |
| Leg | 160 weeks | $184,320 |
| Foot | 125 weeks | $144,000 |
| Big Toe | 30 weeks | $34,560 |
| Eye | 150 weeks | $172,800 |
| Hearing Loss | 150 weeks | $172,800 |
Permanent injuries in general
Impairment % of the body as a whole × 312 weeks at the TTD rate (66.67% of AWW).
Shoulder: confirm the applicable category first
South Dakota does not list the shoulder separately. The statute does not say whether it is rated to the arm (200 weeks) or to the body as a whole (312 weeks).
Shoulder injuries: identify the rating basis
For a rotator-cuff tear, fracture or other shoulder condition, request the final report on range of motion, strength and work restrictions. Check whether the state treats this claim as an arm loss, a whole-person impairment or another category. A shoulder percentage and an arm percentage are not automatically interchangeable.
The information available here does not by itself establish whether the claim uses an arm rating, a whole-person rating or lost-earnings benefits. Ask the agency or rating issuer to identify the category and the rule or guide used before valuing an offer. Do not enter a shoulder percentage into another rating unit without that confirmation.
Law and official sources
Official sources
Statute: SDCL ch. 62-4 (e.g., §§ 62-4-3, 62-4-6); SDCL ch. 62-4 (§ 62-4-6)
- South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, Division of Labor and Management (official site)
- dlr.sd.gov/workers_compensation/rates.aspx
- dlr.sd.gov/workers_compensation/publications/wclawguide_brochure.pdf
Figures checked September 30, 2026. Maximums change every year; confirm current figures with the South Dakota workers' compensation agency.
Estimate only. Your real award depends on your doctor's rating, your wage records, offsets and settlement terms. This page is general information, not legal advice.