Average Salaries in South Dakota
Explore salaries across 567 occupations in South Dakota. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $64.4K, -2.0% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 567 occupations and 453,200 total jobs in South Dakota.
How the state compares
Wages in South Dakota track close to the national average. Pay for most occupations here is similar to what workers earn nationally.
South Dakota has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Radiologists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in South Dakota
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in South Dakota
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Radiologists | $586K | 70 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $393.9K | 170 |
| Obstetricians And Gynecologists | $297.6K | 80 |
| Chief Executives | $280.9K | 510 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $280.5K | 160 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $263.9K | 400 |
| Pediatricians, General | $257.6K | 80 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $240K | 550 |
| Psychiatrists | $226.2K | 60 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $212K | 130 |
Largest occupations in South Dakota
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 15,150 | $29.5K |
| Registered Nurses | 14,710 | $78.1K |
| Retail Salespersons | 14,180 | $34.4K |
| Cashiers | 12,860 | $29.8K |
| Stockers And Order Fillers | 11,460 | $37.7K |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, And Auditing Clerks | 10,200 | $46.3K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 8,630 | $35.5K |
| Waiters And Waitresses | 7,350 | $29K |
| Nursing Assistants | 6,860 | $38.8K |
| Heavy And Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 6,470 | $58.7K |
What South Dakota specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in South Dakota than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in South Dakota
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Choreographers | 29.82 | $40.3K |
| Forest And Conservation Workers | 27.54 | $38.2K |
| Animal Breeders | 10.72 | $44.9K |
| Soil And Plant Scientists | 10.32 | $73.6K |
| Animal Scientists | 9.69 | $77.3K |
| Gambling Change Persons And Booth Cashiers | 8.16 | $30K |
| Agricultural Technicians | 7.78 | $41.4K |
| Farm Equipment Mechanics And Service Technicians | 7.35 | $62.1K |
| Conveyor Operators And Tenders | 7.35 | $44.9K |
| Residential Advisors | 7.15 | $38.4K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $89.7K | Neurologists |
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
Metros inside South Dakota
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in South Dakota
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $63.9K | 171,140 |
| Rapid City, SD | $61.1K | 69,100 |
Common salary questions for South Dakota
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.