Mechanical Engineers Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$65,130
- 25th Percentile — Junior$77,160
- 50th Percentile — Median$88,380
- 75th Percentile — Senior$106,850
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$134,140
Half of Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota earn more than $88,380. The top 10% make $134,140 or more, while entry-level workers start around $65,130.
Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 50th of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers pay, at $95,080 per year (16.3% below the U.S. average of $113,610).
- 560 people work as Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota — 0.2% of all U.S. Mechanical Engineers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.64: Mechanical Engineers jobs are less concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $65,130; the top 10% earn over $134,140.
- Hourly equivalent: $45.71 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is New Mexico at $152,430.
- Among engineering jobs in South Dakota, Engineers All Other pays the most ($115,630).
Mechanical Engineers 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. Mechanical Engineers here earn $95,080 on average, placing the state 50th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $95,080 is roughly equivalent to $109,287 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Kansas ($97,840), Nebraska ($96,820), Wisconsin ($96,750) are the closest alternatives for Mechanical Engineers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Engineering Jobs in South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- Engineers All Other $115,630/yr South Dakota +21.6% vs this role
- Computer Hardware Engineers $110,880/yr South Dakota +16.6% vs this role
- Architects $105,360/yr South Dakota +10.8% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $102,770/yr South Dakota +8.1% vs this role
- Civil Engineers $99,500/yr South Dakota +4.6% vs this role
- Environmental Engineers $99,360/yr South Dakota +4.5% vs this role
- Industrial Engineers $97,100/yr South Dakota +2.1% vs this role
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists $61,250/yr South Dakota 35.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mechanical Engineers salary in South Dakota?
The average Mechanical Engineers salary in South Dakota is $95,080 per year (median $88,380), which is 16.3% below the national average of $113,610.
How does South Dakota rank for Mechanical Engineers pay?
South Dakota ranks 50th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is New Mexico ($152,430/yr).
How much do entry-level Mechanical Engineers make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mechanical Engineers in South Dakota earn about $65,130 per year and the 25th percentile is $77,160.
How much do Mechanical Engineers make per hour in South Dakota?
About $45.71 per hour, based on the $95,080 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mechanical Engineers work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 560 Mechanical Engineers jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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