SOC 33-9099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Protective Service Workers, All Other — South Dakota
South Dakota · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Protective Service Workers, All Other in South Dakota is $42,260 per year, close to the national median of $42,540 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Protective Service Workers, All Other in South Dakota is $42,260 per year, close to the national median of $42,540 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $35,380 at the tenth percentile to more than $65,170 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $40,330 to $49,940.
Employment stands at 130, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, South Dakota ranks 37th by median wage. Rapid City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $49,940. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 447th of 563 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,380 | −16.8% |
| 25th | $40,330 | −5.2% |
| Median (50th) | $42,260 | −0.7% |
| 75th | $49,940 | +17.4% |
| 90th | $65,170 | +53.2% |
| Mean | $45,660 | +7.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in South Dakota
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid City | $49,940 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $42,260 goes as far as $47,698 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 12.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$42,260as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,698US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $42,260 a year, 0.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,380 to $65,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 130 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 37th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Rapid City, at $49,940.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Protective Service Workers, All Other in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $42,260, or $20.32 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 $42,540, so pay in South Dakota is 0.7% 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 $65,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,380 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 $49,940 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 130 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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