SOC 19-1012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Food Scientists and Technologists — South Dakota
South Dakota
Median pay for this occupation in South Dakota is $71,330 a year, trailing the national median of $88,720 by 19.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in South Dakota is $71,330 a year, trailing the national median of $88,720 by 19.6%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $59,650 and $137,250. The lowest tenth earn under $41,990, while the highest tenth earn more than $147,530.
The area has 90 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.2 of every thousand jobs. South Dakota ranks number 37th out of 39 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 563 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 147th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41,990 | −52.7% |
| 25th | $59,650 | −32.8% |
| Median (50th) | $71,330 | −19.6% |
| 75th | $137,250 | +54.7% |
| 90th | $147,530 | +66.3% |
| Mean | $87,850 | −1.0% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $71,330 goes as far as $80,508 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$71,330as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,508US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $71,330 a year, 19.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $41,990 to $147,530 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 90 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 37th of 39 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Food Scientists and Technologists in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $71,330, or $34.29 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 $88,720, so pay in South Dakota is 19.6% 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 $147,530 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $41,990 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 90 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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