Firefighters Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$39,240
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,730
- 50th Percentile — Median$48,160
- 75th Percentile — Senior$59,800
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$61,420
Half of Firefighters in South Dakota earn more than $48,160. The top 10% make $61,420 or more, while entry-level workers start around $39,240.
Firefighters in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 35th of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $51,180 per year (19.6% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 610 people work as Firefighters in South Dakota — 0.2% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.60: Firefighters jobs are less concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,240; the top 10% earn over $61,420.
- Hourly equivalent: $24.61 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in South Dakota, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($97,350).
Firefighters 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. Firefighters here earn $51,180 on average, placing the state 35th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $51,180 is roughly equivalent to $58,828 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Delaware ($53,420), Oklahoma ($52,280), Tennessee ($51,590) are the closest alternatives for Firefighters weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $97,350/yr South Dakota +90.2% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $91,060/yr South Dakota +77.9% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $81,140/yr South Dakota +58.5% vs this role
- Police Officers $64,320/yr South Dakota +25.7% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $53,260/yr South Dakota +4.1% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $44,210/yr South Dakota 13.6% vs this role
- Security Guards $40,250/yr South Dakota 21.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in South Dakota?
The average Firefighters salary in South Dakota is $51,180 per year (median $48,160), which is 19.6% below the national average of $63,630.
How does South Dakota rank for Firefighters pay?
South Dakota ranks 35th out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in South Dakota earn about $39,240 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,730.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in South Dakota?
About $24.61 per hour, based on the $51,180 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 610 Firefighters jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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