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Average Salary in South Dakota
This page shows what jobs actually pay in South Dakota, occupation by occupation, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for May 2024. BLS publishes wage estimates for 559 occupations in South Dakota. For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage in May 2024 was $67,920, the median wage was $23.80 an hour, and total U.S. employment covered by the survey was 154,187,380 jobs. Use the tables below to see South Dakota's highest-paying occupations, its largest occupations, and which South Dakota jobs pay more — or less — than the same job nationally.
Highest-paying occupations in South Dakota
The highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for South Dakota is radiologists, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ — 629.6% higher than the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920 — and a median wage of $239,200+ across 70 jobs. Compared with the same occupation nationally (mean $239,200+), South Dakota pays 37.7% higher for this work. Next on the list are chief executives at a mean of $239,200+ and emergency medicine physicians at $239,200+. These top-paying fields are small: together the top three employ 740 people in South Dakota, so they describe the top of the South Dakota wage ladder rather than the typical worker's experience.
| Occupation | Employment | Median hourly | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiologists | 70 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Chief Executives | 530 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | 140 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 160 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 30 | $83.73 | $174,160 | $239,200+ |
| Psychiatrists | 50 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 70 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Podiatrists | 30 | $112.73 | $234,480 | $239,200+ |
| Pediatricians, General | 80 | $104.80 | $217,990 | $239,200+ |
| Anesthesiologists | 150 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 150 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Physicians, All Other | 160 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Surgeons, All Other | 150 | $115.00+ | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Nurse Anesthetists | 370 | $107.52 | $223,650 | $229,840 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 600 | $104.55 | $217,460 | $223,520 |
Largest occupations in South Dakota
The occupation with the most jobs in South Dakota is registered nurses, employing an estimated 14,500 people at a median annual wage of $69,510 and a mean of $72,210. Nationally the same occupation pays a median of $93,600, so South Dakota's typical pay for this work runs 25.7% lower. The next-largest occupations are fast food and counter workers (14,420 jobs, median $29,480) and retail salespersons (13,070 jobs, median $34,260). Because these occupations are so large, their wages move the overall picture of South Dakota pay far more than the small, highly paid fields above.
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 14,500 | $69,510 | $72,210 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 14,420 | $29,480 | $30,390 |
| Retail Salespersons | 13,070 | $34,260 | $41,070 |
| Cashiers | 12,970 | $29,330 | $30,430 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 12,150 | $36,990 | $36,130 |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 9,830 | $44,780 | $44,660 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 8,290 | $33,940 | $34,480 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 7,080 | $29,080 | $30,780 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 6,750 | $39,760 | $42,050 |
| Nursing Assistants | 6,520 | $38,070 | $38,070 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 5,990 | $56,880 | $58,150 |
| Accountants and Auditors | 5,950 | $77,310 | $81,670 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | 5,880 | $36,560 | $36,750 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 5,840 | $39,710 | $40,250 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 5,270 | $74,430 | $78,250 |
Where South Dakota pays a premium — and where it lags
Comparing each occupation's South Dakota median with its own national median shows where South Dakota's labor market is strong. Among occupations with at least 1,000 South Dakota jobs, the largest premium is for general and operations managers: a median of $133,440 in South Dakota versus $102,950 nationally, 29.6% higher. The largest discount is for lawyers, at $96,550 in South Dakota versus $151,160 nationally, 36.1% lower. In total, 19 of the 112 occupations with 1,000 or more South Dakota jobs pay a median above their national median. Separately, 146 of the 559 occupations published for South Dakota have a median annual wage above the U.S. all-occupation mean of $67,920, which underlines how much of South Dakota's job base sits in lower-wage service work even in a state with high-paying headline jobs.
| Occupation | South Dakota median | U.S. median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $133,440 | $102,950 | +29.6% |
| Parts Salespersons | $45,140 | $37,440 | +20.6% |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $42,890 | $37,700 | +13.8% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $74,430 | $66,780 | +11.5% |
| Driver/Sales Workers | $39,900 | $37,130 | +7.5% |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $26,880 | $38,470 | -30.1% |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $46,350 | $66,700 | -30.5% |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $50,340 | $74,260 | -32.2% |
| Software Developers | $87,770 | $133,080 | -34.0% |
| Lawyers | $96,550 | $151,160 | -36.1% |
South Dakota salary FAQ
What is the highest-paying job in South Dakota?
By average pay, radiologists is the highest-paying occupation BLS publishes for South Dakota, with a mean annual wage of $239,200+ and a median of $239,200+ in May 2024.
What is the average salary in South Dakota?
For context, the U.S. all-occupation mean annual wage was $67,920 in May 2024. In South Dakota, the largest occupation, registered nurses, paid a median of $69,510 across 14,500 jobs, and the tables on this page show mean and median pay for all 559 published occupations.
How many jobs does the largest occupation in South Dakota have?
Registered Nurses is the largest occupation published for South Dakota, with an estimated 14,500 jobs in May 2024 and a mean annual wage of $72,210.
Which occupations pay more in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall?
Among occupations with at least 1,000 South Dakota jobs, general and operations managers shows the largest premium: a median of $133,440 in South Dakota versus $102,950 nationally, 29.6% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.