Sources: South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes, South Dakota Class Code Master and FY27 Pay Structures; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
South Dakota state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges South Dakota sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Staff Attorney Class 203101 Grade GK · FY27 General Pay Structure | $31.86 – $47.78 a hour $66,269 – $99,382 a year |
| Senior Staff Attorney Class 203102 Grade GL · FY27 General Pay Structure | $35.68 – $53.51 a hour $74,214 – $111,301 a year |
| Attorney I Class 807011 Grade Career Band · FY27 Attorney Career Band | $37.93 – $90.53 a hour $78,894 – $188,302 a year |
| Attorney II Class 807012 Grade Career Band · FY27 Attorney Career Band | $37.93 – $90.53 a hour $78,894 – $188,302 a year |
| Attorney III Class 807013 Grade Career Band · FY27 Attorney Career Band | $37.93 – $90.53 a hour $78,894 – $188,302 a year |
| Attorney IV Class 807014 Grade Career Band · FY27 Attorney Career Band | $37.93 – $90.53 a hour $78,894 – $188,302 a year |
| Attorney V Class 807015 Grade Career Band · FY27 Attorney Career Band | $37.93 – $90.53 a hour $78,894 – $188,302 a year |
Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions (hourly × 2,080). Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes, South Dakota Class Code Master and FY27 Pay Structures. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in South Dakota, all employers Sourced
Lawyers (SOC 23-1011) in South Dakota, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | SD |
|---|---|
| Workers | 1,360 |
| 10th percentile | $76,920 |
| Median | $102,040 |
| 90th percentile | $234,690 |
| National median, government employers | $134,680 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for South Dakota
South Dakota Bar ExaminationSouth Dakota exam · free on Open Exam Prep- Multistate Bar ExaminationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Essay ExaminationEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Performance TestEntrance or licensing exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Multistate Professional Responsibility ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- NextGen Bar ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Uniform Bar ExaminationPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Government Attorney (agency counsel) page.