Mental Health Counselors Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$39,210
- 25th Percentile — Junior$45,650
- 50th Percentile — Median$53,650
- 75th Percentile — Senior$62,660
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$67,010
Half of Mental Health Counselors in South Dakota earn more than $53,650. The top 10% make $67,010 or more, while entry-level workers start around $39,210.
Mental Health Counselors in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 46th of 51 states for Mental Health Counselors pay, at $54,760 per year (15.0% below the U.S. average of $64,440).
- 1,710 people work as Mental Health Counselors in South Dakota — 0.3% of all U.S. Mental Health Counselors jobs.
- Location quotient 1.18: Mental Health Counselors jobs are more concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $39,210; the top 10% earn over $67,010.
- Hourly equivalent: $26.33 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $86,500.
- Among social services jobs in South Dakota, Health Education Specialists pays the most ($62,030).
Mental Health Counselors 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. Mental Health Counselors here earn $54,760 on average, placing the state 46th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $54,760 is roughly equivalent to $62,943 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Kentucky ($57,560), Delaware ($57,330), Pennsylvania ($57,170) are the closest alternatives for Mental Health Counselors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Social Services Jobs in South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- Health Education Specialists $62,030/yr South Dakota +13.3% vs this role
- Healthcare Social Workers $59,640/yr South Dakota +8.9% vs this role
- Rehabilitation Counselors $54,400/yr South Dakota 0.7% vs this role
- Educational Guidance and Career Counselors $53,980/yr South Dakota 1.4% vs this role
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $53,400/yr South Dakota 2.5% vs this role
- Child Family and School Social Workers $53,320/yr South Dakota 2.6% vs this role
- Community Health Workers $49,030/yr South Dakota 10.5% vs this role
- Marriage and Family Therapists $46,380/yr South Dakota 15.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Mental Health Counselors salary in South Dakota?
The average Mental Health Counselors salary in South Dakota is $54,760 per year (median $53,650), which is 15.0% below the national average of $64,440.
How does South Dakota rank for Mental Health Counselors pay?
South Dakota ranks 46th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($86,500/yr).
How much do entry-level Mental Health Counselors make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Mental Health Counselors in South Dakota earn about $39,210 per year and the 25th percentile is $45,650.
How much do Mental Health Counselors make per hour in South Dakota?
About $26.33 per hour, based on the $54,760 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Mental Health Counselors work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 1,710 Mental Health Counselors jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data