SOC 13-1031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — South Dakota
South Dakota · 2 metro areas compared
At $78,900, median pay for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in South Dakota tracks the national median of $78,000 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $78,900, median pay for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in South Dakota tracks the national median of $78,000 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $65,640 and $96,400. The lowest tenth earn under $58,160, while the highest tenth earn more than $104,190.
The area has 1,030 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.08 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, South Dakota ranks 16th by median wage. Rapid City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $79,780. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 108th of 563 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,160 | −25.4% |
| 25th | $65,640 | −15.8% |
| Median (50th) | $78,900 | +1.2% |
| 75th | $96,400 | +23.6% |
| 90th | $104,190 | +33.6% |
| Mean | $81,510 | +4.5% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid City | $79,780 | 140 | |
| 2 | Sioux Falls | $78,900 | 570 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $78,900 goes as far as $89,052 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 14.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$78,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$89,052US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,900 a year, 1.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $58,160 to $104,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,030 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 16th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Rapid City, at $79,780.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $78,900, or $37.93 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $78,000, so pay in South Dakota is 1.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in South Dakota earns more than $104,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $58,160 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Rapid City, at $79,780 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,030 jobs in this occupation in South Dakota. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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