SOC 31-9094 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Medical Transcriptionists — South Dakota
South Dakota · 2 metro areas compared
In South Dakota the median wage for Medical Transcriptionists is $46,070 a year, which is 14.0% higher than the national figure of $40,410.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to decline
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- -4.9%
- Openings per year
- 7,400
- Typical entry-level education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for South Dakota.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
In South Dakota the median wage for Medical Transcriptionists is $46,070 a year, which is 14.0% higher than the national figure of $40,410. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $40,000 and $51,540. The lowest tenth earn under $36,160, while the highest tenth earn more than $59,870.
The area has 240 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.5 of every thousand jobs. South Dakota ranks number 8th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Rapid City records the highest median at $53,840. Of the 563 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 389th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,160 | −10.5% |
| 25th | $40,000 | −1.0% |
| Median (50th) | $46,070 | +14.0% |
| 75th | $51,540 | +27.5% |
| 90th | $59,870 | +48.2% |
| Mean | $46,740 | +15.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid City | $53,840 | 30 | |
| 2 | Sioux Falls | $46,930 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $46,070 goes as far as $51,998 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 28.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$46,070as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$51,998US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $46,070 a year, 14.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,160 to $59,870 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 240 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Rapid City, at $53,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Medical Transcriptionists in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $46,070, or $22.15 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 $40,410, so pay in South Dakota is 14.0% 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 $59,870 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,160 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 $53,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 240 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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