SOC 19-4061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Social Science Research Assistants — South Dakota
South Dakota
The median wage for Social Science Research Assistants in South Dakota is $44,820 per year, substantially below the national median of $61,990 — a gap of 27.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Social Science Research Assistants in South Dakota is $44,820 per year, substantially below the national median of $61,990 — a gap of 27.7%. Pay ranges from under $28,260 at the tenth percentile to more than $50,670 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $34,710 to $50,670.
The area has 40 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, South Dakota ranks 43rd by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 418th of 563 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $28,260 | −54.4% |
| 25th | $34,710 | −44.0% |
| Median (50th) | $44,820 | −27.7% |
| 75th | $50,670 | −18.3% |
| 90th | $50,670 | −18.3% |
| Mean | $41,910 | −32.4% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $44,820 goes as far as $50,587 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$50,587US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,820 a year, 27.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $28,260 to $50,670 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 40 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 43rd of 45 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Social Science Research Assistants in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $44,820, or $21.55 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 $61,990, so pay in South Dakota is 27.7% 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 $50,670 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $28,260 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 40 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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