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Home / Hourly Rates / $8 Per Hour / South Dakota / Brookings Paycheck
PAYCHECK & TAX BREAKDOWN

$8 an Hour is How Much a Day in Brookings, SD?

An hourly pay rate of $8/hr in Brookings, SD translates to $64 in gross daily earnings based on full-time work of 2,080 annual hours before taxes.

Gross Annual $16,640 52 weeks @ 40 hrs
Gross Monthly $1,386.67 ~166.6 hours/month
Gross Weekly $320 40 hours/week
Overtime Rate (1.5x) $12 per hour after 40 hrs
Brookings Affordability 45/100 Difficult — Low Cost of Living
Brookings Cost of Living Low Cost of Living
Avg 1BR Rent in Brookings 30% Rule: $416/mo budget
$931/mo $515 over budget ✗
Brookings Median Wage BLS Local Area Estimate
$19.60/hr -59.2% below local median

How Much is $8 an Hour After Taxes in Brookings, SD?

Adjust hours, state, or filing status to calculate custom net take-home pay.

Weekly Hours: 40 hrs/wk
10 hrs (Part-time) 40 hrs (Full-time) 80 hrs
hrs/wk
Estimated Net Take-Home
$58.32

per day after Federal, FICA & State Taxes


Hourly Net $7.29
Weekly Net $291.6

Estimated Tax Breakdown ($16,640 Gross)

Federal Income Tax (~1.2%) $204
FICA Tax (Social Security & Medicare 7.65%) $1,272.96
South Dakota State Tax (~0.0%) $0
*Estimates based on 2026/2027 IRS tax brackets with standard deduction. ✓ IRS Publication 15-T Verified
Brookings Real Purchasing Power (COL-Adjusted) ↑ 118% of National Average
$17,892 COL-Adj. Annual
$1,491 COL-Adj. Monthly
$8.60/hr Real Wage Equiv.

Your $15,163.04 net pay in Brookings has the equivalent purchasing power of $17,892/yr nationally due to Brookings's LCOL cost-of-living tier — $2,728.96 more than the same salary in an average U.S. city.

Full Tax & Paycheck Breakdown

For the complete gross-to-net pay matrix, tax calculation, and PTO comparison for $8.00/hr in South Dakota:

South Dakota Full Breakdown →

Brookings vs Comparable South Dakota Cities

Brookings ranks #4 of 7 in South Dakota by rent cost. See how it compares to cheaper and pricier neighbors at $8.00/hr.

Safe Rent Budget: $416/mo (30% of gross)
City Avg 1BR Rent vs 30% Budget Needs Leftover Local Median Wage Housing Verdict
Mitchell $817/mo $401 over -$185/mo $17.20/hr 🔴 Difficult
Watertown $874/mo $458 over -$242/mo $18.40/hr 🔴 Difficult
Brookings ← You $931/mo $515 over -$299/mo $19.60/hr 🔴 Difficult
Aberdeen $998/mo $582 over -$366/mo $21.00/hr 🔴 Difficult
Rapid City $1,093/mo $677 over -$461/mo $23.00/hr 🔴 Difficult

*Needs Leftover = 50% of net pay ($632/mo) minus city average rent. Positive = comfortable; negative = rent strain.

City Report

Is $8.00/hr a Living Wage in Brookings, SD?

Full monthly expense breakdown based on Brookings cost-of-living data and BLS Consumer Expenditure benchmarks.

Below Living Wage Threshold in Brookings

$8.00/hr falls $677/mo short of estimated living costs in Brookings.

Brookings (LCOL) living wage threshold: $15.50/hr — your wage is $7.50/hr below this threshold.

Estimated Monthly Expenses in Brookings

Expense Category Amount Share
Avg 1BR Rent — Brookings $931 73.7% of net
Groceries & Food $320 25.3% of net
Utilities (Electric, Water, Internet) $110 8.7% of net
Transportation (Gas, Insurance, Transit) $280 22.2% of net
Healthcare & Insurance $180 14.2% of net
Personal & Miscellaneous $120 9.5% of net
Total Monthly Expenses $1,941 -$677 deficit
Your Monthly Net Pay $1,263.59 100%

Brookings Wage Percentile

$19.60/hr Brookings Median Wage
$8.00/hr Your Hourly Rate
Bottom 35% of Brookings Earners
31% of U.S. Median Income

Savings Milestones in Brookings

Monthly Savings Capacity (20% of net) $253/mo
3-Month Emergency Fund Target $3,791
Months to Build Emergency Fund 15 months
20% Down Payment on Brookings Median Home $44,688
Months to Save for Down Payment 9 months
50/30/20 BUDGET ALLOCATION

50/30/20 Budget Rule for $8/hr in Brookings, SD

Based on estimated monthly take-home pay of $1,263.59 after taxes.

⚠️
Brookings, SD Rent Deficit Warning ($515/mo Over Budget)

Average 1-bedroom rent in Brookings ($931/mo) exceeds your 30% safe rent limit ($416/mo) by $515/month. Living with roommates or adjusting lifestyle wants is recommended in Brookings.

Needs (50%) Essential
$631.79

Deducting $931/mo Brookings rent leaves $-299.21/mo for groceries & bills.

Wants (30%) Lifestyle
$379.08

Dining out, Hobbies & Subscriptions

Savings & Debt (20%) Wealth
$252.72

Emergency fund, Investments

Housing Affordability

How Much Rent Can You Afford on $8/hr in Brookings, SD?

Financial experts recommend spending no more than 30% of your gross income on housing.

Recommended Max Monthly Rent
$416 / mo
Based on the 30% gross rule ($1,386.67 x 0.30).
Ideal Rent Range: $318.93 - $416/mo
Max Stretch Rent (Take-home 40%): Up to $505.44/mo
Brookings Average 1BR Rent Benchmark: $931/month
Average Brookings rent ($931/mo) exceeds your 50% Needs budget by $299.21/mo.

Detailed Analysis: Is $8.00 an Hour a Good Wage?

A hourly wage of $8 in Brookings, SD yields a gross daily earnings totaling $64 prior to payroll taxes and deductions. Earning $8/hr puts you below the average worker in Brookings, where the median wage is $19.60 per hour. Understanding how this rate translates per day is crucial for planning your budget.

Take-Home Pay & Net Cash Flow Analysis

In terms of actual purchasing power, an hourly rate of $8/hr delivers an estimated net take-home pay of $58 per day after accounting for Federal taxes, FICA contributions, and state withholdings in Brookings, SD.

Housing Affordability & Safe Rent Guidance

Following the established 30% gross income housing guideline ($1,387 gross monthly x 0.30), the recommended maximum monthly rent for a $8/hr wage in Brookings, SD is $416/month. This budget leaves a deficit of -$515/mo compared to the average Brookings 1-bedroom rent of $931/mo, indicating that independent housing is tight.

50/30/20 Monthly Budget Allocation

Applying the standard 50/30/20 budget framework to your estimated net monthly pay of $1,264: allocate $632 (50%) for essential needs, $379 (30%) for wants, and $253 (20%) for savings. Because the average local rent of $931/mo exceeds the 50% Needs allocation, you will have a monthly deficit of -$299 in this category.

Brookings Local Median Wage Benchmark ($19.60/hr) -59% Below Local Median
U.S. National Individual Median Income ($54,000/yr) -69% vs National Median

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is $8 an hour per day working full-time in Brookings, SD?

For a standard 8-hour workday, earning $8/hr gives a gross daily wage of $64 in Brookings, SD before taxes.

What is the net daily paycheck for a $8/hr wage in Brookings, SD?

After state, federal, and FICA deductions, a $8/hr worker keeps about $58 per day in net take-home earnings in Brookings, SD.

How does a $8/hr wage compare to daily expenses in Brookings, SD?

Earning a net $58 daily paycheck in Brookings, SD allows a worker to cover typical daily housing, food, and transport costs, depending on individual spending habits.

Salary Paycheck Period

Compare different paycheck frequencies for this exact hourly rate.

Daily