SOC 19-1042 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — South Dakota
South Dakota
In South Dakota the median wage is $80,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In South Dakota the median wage is $80,890. That is 21.8% lower than the national median of $103,410. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $64,420 and $89,220. The lowest tenth earn under $59,470, while the highest tenth earn more than $127,120.
The area has 140 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.28 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 46 states with published data for this occupation, South Dakota ranks 37th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 99th of 563 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,470 | −42.5% |
| 25th | $64,420 | −37.7% |
| Median (50th) | $80,890 | −21.8% |
| 75th | $89,220 | −13.7% |
| 90th | $127,120 | +22.9% |
| Mean | $83,870 | −18.9% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $80,890 goes as far as $91,298 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,890as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$91,298US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,890 a year, 21.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $59,470 to $127,120 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 37th of 46 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $80,890, or $38.89 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 $103,410, so pay in South Dakota is 21.8% 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 $127,120 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $59,470 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 140 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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