Average and median wage in South Dakota
Half of the 457,380 workers in South Dakota earn less than $47,080 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $57,610, or $27.70 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $29,300 or less and the top 10% $94,900 or more. The average is 17% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 8% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $29K10th
- $36K25th
- $47KMedian
- $64K75th
- $95K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | South Dakota per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,610 | $27.70 | $69,770 |
| Median | $47,080 | $22.63 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $29,300 | $14.09 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $36,030 | $17.32 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $64,020 | $30.78 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $94,900 | $45.62 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in South Dakota
- Sioux Falls$60,390
- Rapid City$57,850
Map of South Dakota metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $60,390 | $47,970 | $50,703 | 91 | $342,936 |
| Rapid City | $57,850 | $46,270 | $48,662 | 89 | $374,117 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in South Dakota
- Radiologists · Sioux Falls$550,570
- Chief Executives · Rapid City$357,500
- Chief Executives · Sioux Falls$353,870
- Family Medicine Physicians · Rapid City$272,480
- Pediatricians, General · Sioux Falls$269,200
- Nurse Anesthetists · Sioux Falls$252,940
- Family Medicine Physicians · Sioux Falls$245,970
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric · Rapid City$214,600
- Dentists, General · Sioux Falls$191,370
- Architectural and Engineering Managers · Rapid City$186,070
Most common jobs in South Dakota
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 15,150 | $30,900 | $29,490 | $31,610 |
| Registered Nurses | 14,710 | $77,140 | $78,060 | $84,070 |
| Retail Salespersons | 14,180 | $39,720 | $34,370 | $40,560 |
| Cashiers | 12,860 | $31,320 | $29,780 | $32,450 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 11,460 | $37,000 | $37,650 | $38,130 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 10,200 | $46,630 | $46,340 | $47,990 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 8,630 | $36,360 | $35,480 | $36,390 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 7,350 | $30,860 | $28,990 | $32,020 |
| Nursing Assistants | 6,860 | $39,510 | $38,800 | $40,150 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 6,470 | $58,550 | $58,690 | $60,270 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in South Dakota
South Dakota income tax and take-home pay
South Dakota has no state income tax on wages, so take-home pay only loses federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
South Dakota at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
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- Maine
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- Mississippi
- Missouri
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- Nebraska
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- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
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- Oregon
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- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in South Dakota: questions
What is the average salary in South Dakota?
$57,610 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 17% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in South Dakota?
$47,080 a year: half of South Dakota workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in South Dakota?
$27.70 an hour on average, and $22.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in South Dakota pays the most?
Sioux Falls, with an average of $60,390 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is South Dakota expensive to live in?
BEA puts South Dakota prices 11% below the U.S. average (price parity 88.6). Within the state, Sioux Falls 91, Rapid City 89 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in South Dakota.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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