SalaryExplorer

SOC 29-1141 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS

Registered NursesEast South Dakota

East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area · 2 metro areas compared

$78,280 /year
$37.63per hour
2,790jobs in area
19.8%vs US median

Median pay for this occupation in East South Dakota, SD is $78,280 a year, trailing the national median of $97,550 by 19.8%.

Wage distribution · annual

Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners

US MEDIAN $97,55010TH$62,82025TH$68,080MEDIAN$78,28075TH$86,20090TH$96,140

Salary overview

Median pay for this occupation in East South Dakota, SD is $78,280 a year, trailing the national median of $97,550 by 19.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $68,080 and $86,200. The lowest tenth earn under $62,820, while the highest tenth earn more than $96,140.

The area has 2,790 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 21.0 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Rapid City records the highest median at $79,380. Of the 390 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 66th.

Percentile breakdown

Annual wages by percentile · East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area · May 2025
PercentileAnnualvs US median
10th$62,820−35.6%
25th$68,080−30.2%
Median (50th)$78,280−19.8%
75th$86,200−11.6%
90th$96,140−1.4%
Mean$77,900−20.1%

Other metro areas in South Dakota

Median annual wage for Registered Nurses, by metro area
#Metro areaMedianJobsRelative
1Rapid City$79,3802,480
2Sioux Falls$75,3507,680

What the pay is worth locally

Prices in East South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $78,280 goes as far as $88,352 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.4% below the national median in real terms.

Published median

$78,280as reported by BLS

Local price level

88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Adjusted for local prices

$88,352US average = 100 · BEA 2024

Key takeaways

  • Median pay is $78,280 a year, 19.8% below the national median.
  • Published pay spans $62,820 to $96,140 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
  • The area has 2,790 jobs in this occupation.
  • The highest-paying metro area covered is Rapid City, at $79,380.

Frequently asked questions

What is the median wage for Registered Nurses in East South Dakota, SD?

The median annual wage is $78,280, or $37.63 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 $97,550, so pay in East South Dakota, SD is 19.8% 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 East South Dakota, SD earns more than $96,140 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.

What is the starting range?

The tenth percentile wage is $62,820 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 $79,380 per year.

How many jobs are there in this occupation here?

The survey estimates 2,790 jobs in this occupation in East South Dakota, SD. 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.

Registered Nurses Salary in East South Dakota, SD (2025): $78,280 Median | Salary Explorer