State Median Salary
$86,952
Total DOL Filings
3,397
Companies Hiring
25+
Cost of Living Index
92.4
National average = 100
South Dakota vs National Average
South Dakota
$86,952
National Average (BLS)
$49,500
South Dakota median DOL salary is +75.7% above the national average.
Top Cities by Hiring Activity in South Dakota
| City | DOL Filings | Median Salary | Top Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 1,699 | $101,521 | Tata Consultancy Services Limited |
| Brookings, SD | 261 | $69,777 | South Dakota State University |
| Rapid City, SD | 213 | $103,232 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology |
| Huron, SD | 166 | $34,563 | Dakota Provisions, LLC |
| Vermillion, SD | 117 | $68,648 | University of South Dakota |
| Pierre, SD | 114 | $79,757 | My3Tech Inc |
| Aberdeen, SD | 102 | $170,979 | Sanford Clinic |
| Yankton, SD | 79 | $65,010 | Baldwin Filters Inc. |
| Watertown, SD | 48 | $82,927 | LTIMindtree Limited |
| MISSION, SD | 39 | $48,754 | Todd County School District 66-1 |
Top Employers in South Dakota
Highest-Paying Occupations in South Dakota
BLS Wage Survey - South Dakota
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, state-level occupational wages (all workers, not just sponsored positions).| Occupation | BLS Median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Podiatrists | $234,480 | 30 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $223,650 | 370 |
| Pediatricians, General | $217,990 | 80 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $217,460 | 600 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $174,160 | 30 |
| Dentists, General | $162,860 | 270 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $160,850 | 330 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $152,540 | 250 |
| Financial Managers | $152,020 | 870 |
| Computer Network Architects | $149,300 | 580 |
| Marketing Managers | $145,390 | N/A |
| Pharmacists | $140,190 | 1,290 |
| Sales Managers | $133,590 | 450 |
| General and Operations Managers | $133,440 | 4,440 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $128,560 | 30 |
| Physician Assistants | $128,130 | 650 |
| Database Architects | $127,460 | 60 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $123,380 | 500 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $122,600 | 950 |
| Training and Development Managers | $120,760 | 50 |
Cost of Living Analysis
How far does your salary actually go in South Dakota?
South Dakota has a cost of living index of
92.4 (national average = 100), meaning it is
7.6% less expensive than the national average.
A salary of $100,000 in South Dakota has the purchasing power equivalent of
$108,225 in a city at the national average cost of living.
Top Occupations - COL-Adjusted Salary
| Job Title | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing Managers | $135,645 | $146,802 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $112,153 | $121,378 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $91,400 | $98,918 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $89,264 | $96,606 |
| Physicists | $85,000 | $91,991 |
Salary Trend in South Dakota
Median DOL-filed salary by fiscal yearPopular Searches in South Dakota
Marketing Managers in South Dakota
Medical and Health Services Managers in South Dakota
Computer and Information Systems Managers in South Dakota
Business Teachers, Postsecondary in South Dakota
Physicists in South Dakota
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary in South Dakota
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary in South Dakota
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary in South Dakota
Compare South Dakota to Another State
See how South Dakota stacks up against other states.Source: US Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) public disclosure files (PERM Form ETA-9089 and LCA Form ETA-9035), and US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Salary figures represent employer filings and government survey estimates, not individual worker pay.