SOC 19-3099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — South Dakota
South Dakota
Median pay for this occupation in South Dakota is $86,260 a year, trailing the national median of $101,110 by 14.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in South Dakota is $86,260 a year, trailing the national median of $101,110 by 14.7%. Half of workers earn between $73,920 and $93,640. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $63,130 and the ninetieth at $100,420.
The area has 70 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.65 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, South Dakota ranks 35th by median wage. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 83rd of 563 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,130 | −37.6% |
| 25th | $73,920 | −26.9% |
| Median (50th) | $86,260 | −14.7% |
| 75th | $93,640 | −7.4% |
| 90th | $100,420 | −0.7% |
| Mean | $84,840 | −16.1% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average, so the median of $86,260 goes as far as $97,359 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 3.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$86,260as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$97,359US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $86,260 a year, 14.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $63,130 to $100,420 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 70 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 35th of 49 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other in South Dakota?
The median annual wage is $86,260, or $41.47 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 $101,110, so pay in South Dakota is 14.7% 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 $100,420 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $63,130 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 70 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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