Environmental Scientists and Specialists Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,390
- 25th Percentile — Junior$62,910
- 50th Percentile — Median$68,230
- 75th Percentile — Senior$79,880
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$97,060
Half of Environmental Scientists and Specialists in South Dakota earn more than $68,230. The top 10% make $97,060 or more, while entry-level workers start around $49,390.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 44th of 51 states for Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay, at $72,470 per year (21.0% below the U.S. average of $91,680).
- 240 people work as Environmental Scientists and Specialists in South Dakota — 0.3% of all U.S. Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.91: Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs are less concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,390; the top 10% earn over $97,060.
- Hourly equivalent: $34.84 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $133,190.
- Among science jobs in South Dakota, Physicists pays the most ($108,270).
Environmental Scientists and Specialists 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. Environmental Scientists and Specialists here earn $72,470 on average, placing the state 44th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $72,470 is roughly equivalent to $83,299 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Idaho ($76,760), Wyoming ($76,430), Nebraska ($74,880) are the closest alternatives for Environmental Scientists and Specialists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $108,270/yr South Dakota +49.4% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $89,140/yr South Dakota +23.0% vs this role
- Food Scientists and Technologists $87,850/yr South Dakota +21.2% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $83,870/yr South Dakota +15.7% vs this role
- Animal Scientists $79,940/yr South Dakota +10.3% vs this role
- Soil and Plant Scientists $79,240/yr South Dakota +9.3% vs this role
- Conservation Scientists $76,060/yr South Dakota +5.0% vs this role
- Microbiologists $75,990/yr South Dakota +4.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Environmental Scientists and Specialists salary in South Dakota?
The average Environmental Scientists and Specialists salary in South Dakota is $72,470 per year (median $68,230), which is 21.0% below the national average of $91,680.
How does South Dakota rank for Environmental Scientists and Specialists pay?
South Dakota ranks 44th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($133,190/yr).
How much do entry-level Environmental Scientists and Specialists make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Environmental Scientists and Specialists in South Dakota earn about $49,390 per year and the 25th percentile is $62,910.
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists make per hour in South Dakota?
About $34.84 per hour, based on the $72,470 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Environmental Scientists and Specialists work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 240 Environmental Scientists and Specialists jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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