SOC 19-4042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health — South Dakota
South Dakota
In South Dakota the median wage is $44,180.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In South Dakota the median wage is $44,180. That is 19.8% lower than the national median of $55,090. Pay ranges from under $30,830 at the tenth percentile to more than $57,010 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $32,470 to $48,480.
The area has 60 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.56 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. South Dakota ranks number 48th out of 49 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 563 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 429th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $30,830 | −44.0% |
| 25th | $32,470 | −41.1% |
| Median (50th) | $44,180 | −19.8% |
| 75th | $48,480 | −12.0% |
| 90th | $57,010 | +3.5% |
| Mean | $42,530 | −22.8% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $44,180 goes as far as $49,865 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,865US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,180 a year, 19.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $30,830 to $57,010 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 48th of 49 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $44,180, or $21.24 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 $55,090, so pay in South Dakota is 19.8% lower. 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 $57,010 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $30,830 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 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.
Explore related data