Cutting Machine Operators Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$36,840
- 25th Percentile — Junior$41,900
- 50th Percentile — Median$46,060
- 75th Percentile — Senior$53,330
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$59,950
Half of Cutting Machine Operators in South Dakota earn more than $46,060. The top 10% make $59,950 or more, while entry-level workers start around $36,840.
Cutting Machine Operators in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 28th of 49 states for Cutting Machine Operators pay, at $47,740 per year (1.4% below the U.S. average of $48,430).
- 490 people work as Cutting Machine Operators in South Dakota — 0.3% of all U.S. Cutting Machine Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.97: Cutting Machine Operators jobs are less concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,840; the top 10% earn over $59,950.
- Hourly equivalent: $22.95 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Oregon at $55,390.
- Among manufacturing jobs in South Dakota, First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers pays the most ($73,610).
Cutting Machine Operators Job Market in South Dakota
Key factors affecting compensation
South Dakota's key industries are Agriculture, Finance, Tourism, and its job market is rated moderate. Cutting Machine Operators here earn $47,740 on average, placing the state 28th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $47,740 is roughly equivalent to $54,874 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Connecticut ($48,190), New Hampshire ($48,150), Wyoming ($48,060) are the closest alternatives for Cutting Machine Operators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Manufacturing Jobs in South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers $73,610/yr South Dakota +54.2% vs this role
- Computer Numerically Controlled Machine Tool Operators $52,790/yr South Dakota +10.6% vs this role
- Machinists $51,860/yr South Dakota +8.6% vs this role
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters $50,680/yr South Dakota +6.2% vs this role
- Printing Press Operators $46,110/yr South Dakota 3.4% vs this role
- Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $45,120/yr South Dakota 5.5% vs this role
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers $44,310/yr South Dakota 7.2% vs this role
- Butchers and Meat Cutters $41,060/yr South Dakota 14.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cutting Machine Operators salary in South Dakota?
The average Cutting Machine Operators salary in South Dakota is $47,740 per year (median $46,060), which is 1.4% below the national average of $48,430.
How does South Dakota rank for Cutting Machine Operators pay?
South Dakota ranks 28th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is Oregon ($55,390/yr).
How much do entry-level Cutting Machine Operators make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cutting Machine Operators in South Dakota earn about $36,840 per year and the 25th percentile is $41,900.
How much do Cutting Machine Operators make per hour in South Dakota?
About $22.95 per hour, based on the $47,740 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cutting Machine Operators work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 490 Cutting Machine Operators jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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