Payment of Wages: South Dakota

Federal law and guidance on this subject should be reviewed together with this section.

Author: Vicki M. Lambert, The Payroll Advisor

Summary

• South Dakota employers may pay employees in cash, by check or by direct deposit. Noncompliance penalties are imposed for violations. See Wage Payment Methods.
• Employers are required to pay employees at least once a month. Penalties are imposed for violations of the pay frequency rules. See Pay Frequency.
• South Dakota law prohibits employers from making pay deductions to pay for employees' required medical exams. See Permitted and Prohibited Wage Deductions.
• South Dakota law requires employers to pay terminated employees by the next regular payday. Penalties are imposed for noncompliance. See Final Pay.
• South Dakota's general estates law may apply to an employer who owes wages or other property to a deceased employee. See Deceased Employee Wages.
• Wages that remain unclaimed by an employee for one year are considered abandoned property. Employers holding unclaimed wages must send a due diligence notice to affected employees, and file a report and remit the wages to the state within a certain time period. Penalties are imposed for noncompliance. See Unclaimed Wages.