Optometrists Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$90,560
- 25th Percentile — Junior$94,350
- 50th Percentile — Median$102,320
- 75th Percentile — Senior$133,200
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$174,920
Half of Optometrists in South Dakota earn more than $102,320. The top 10% make $174,920 or more, while entry-level workers start around $90,560.
Optometrists in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 47th of 51 states for Optometrists pay, at $118,060 per year (16.6% below the U.S. average of $141,550).
- 190 people work as Optometrists in South Dakota — 0.4% of all U.S. Optometrists jobs.
- Location quotient 1.50: Optometrists jobs are more concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $90,560; the top 10% earn over $174,920.
- Hourly equivalent: $56.76 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $165,120.
- Among healthcare jobs in South Dakota, Radiologists pays the most ($534,640).
Optometrists 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. Optometrists here earn $118,060 on average, placing the state 47th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $118,060 is roughly equivalent to $135,701 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Texas ($124,760), Iowa ($123,250), Louisiana ($121,000) are the closest alternatives for Optometrists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- Radiologists $534,640/yr South Dakota +352.9% vs this role
- Emergency Medicine Physicians $335,490/yr South Dakota +184.2% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $331,820/yr South Dakota +181.1% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $307,380/yr South Dakota +160.4% vs this role
- Pediatricians General $288,400/yr South Dakota +144.3% vs this role
- Psychiatrists $270,220/yr South Dakota +128.9% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $258,390/yr South Dakota +118.9% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $249,720/yr South Dakota +111.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Optometrists salary in South Dakota?
The average Optometrists salary in South Dakota is $118,060 per year (median $102,320), which is 16.6% below the national average of $141,550.
How does South Dakota rank for Optometrists pay?
South Dakota ranks 47th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($165,120/yr).
How much do entry-level Optometrists make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Optometrists in South Dakota earn about $90,560 per year and the 25th percentile is $94,350.
How much do Optometrists make per hour in South Dakota?
About $56.76 per hour, based on the $118,060 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Optometrists work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 190 Optometrists jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data