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South Dakota engineer salary

Estimate

Updated January 2025

What engineers earn across South Dakota — explore the numbers city by city.

Typical pay

$107,214

South Dakota

Top earners

$164,810

Higher end

vs national

-8% vs national

U.S. $116,537

Cities

3

in this state

Engineers in South Dakota earn an estimated $107,214 per year, -8% vs national, with top earners near $164,810. Explore pay city by city below, or estimate your own total compensation. The number sharpens as engineers here contribute.

Engineering pay by role in South Dakota

Estimated pay for each discipline in South Dakota. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.

22results

Engineering salaries by city in South Dakota

Pick your city to add the first local salary data for South Dakota.

Major cities in South Dakota

We don't publish a separate estimate for these yet. Use the South Dakota estimate above as your starting point — and add your pay to put your city on the map.

Estimate any city

Don't see your city? Submit your salary or request a city — new cities appear as engineers contribute.

What affects engineering pay in South Dakota

  • Local market. South Dakota pay runs -8% vs national for the typical engineer, driven by local demand and living costs.
  • Discipline mix. Software, petroleum, and engineering-management roles pull averages up; civil and environmental roles sit lower. Use the role table above for specifics.
  • Metro concentration. Pay is fairly even statewide; no single high-cost metro dominates.
  • Remote & experience.Remote roles often anchor to a company's HQ market rather than South Dakota; seniority can swing pay ±35% around the median.

Engineer salaries in South Dakota — FAQ

How much do engineers make in South Dakota?
Engineers in South Dakota earn an estimated median of $107,214 per year — 8% below the national average — with top earners near $164,810. These are labeled estimates: geographic pay is modeled from BLS OEWS national baselines adjusted by a local cost-of-labor index, not a direct BLS metro/state wage.
What is the highest-paying engineering job in South Dakota?
Among tracked disciplines, engineering managers have the highest estimated pay in South Dakota, around $152,140 (median). Management, software, and petroleum roles typically sit at the top; civil and environmental roles lower.
Is South Dakota a good state for engineers?
Pay-wise, the typical South Dakota engineering salary is 8% below the national average. Cost of living is often lower to match, so real take-home can still be strong. Compare roles and cities on this page before deciding.
Source details

Blended engineering estimate for South Dakota: BLS OEWS national engineering median adjusted by a 0.92× cost-of-labor index.

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →