SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — South Dakota
South Dakota
Median pay in South Dakota is $83,050 a year, 51.8% under the national median of $172,250 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in South Dakota is $83,050 a year, 51.8% under the national median of $172,250 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $66,170 and $134,300. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $53,910 and the ninetieth at $180,690.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.58 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, South Dakota ranks 42nd by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 94th of 563 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,910 | −68.7% |
| 25th | $66,170 | −61.6% |
| Median (50th) | $83,050 | −51.8% |
| 75th | $134,300 | −22.0% |
| 90th | $180,690 | +4.9% |
| Mean | $108,270 | −37.1% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $83,050 goes as far as $93,736 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 45.6% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$83,050as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$93,736US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $83,050 a year, 51.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,910 to $180,690 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 42nd of 43 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $83,050, or $39.93 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 $172,250, so pay in South Dakota is 51.8% 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 $180,690 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,910 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 30 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