Police Officers Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,540
- 25th Percentile — Junior$52,330
- 50th Percentile — Median$60,740
- 75th Percentile — Senior$72,000
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$91,900
Half of Police Officers in South Dakota earn more than $60,740. The top 10% make $91,900 or more, while entry-level workers start around $47,540.
Police Officers in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 38th of 51 states for Police Officers pay, at $64,320 per year (18.8% below the U.S. average of $79,200).
- 2,000 people work as Police Officers in South Dakota — 0.3% of all U.S. Police Officers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.01: Police Officers jobs are more concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,540; the top 10% earn over $91,900.
- Hourly equivalent: $30.92 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $112,980.
- Among public safety jobs in South Dakota, First-Line Supervisors of Police pays the most ($97,350).
Police Officers 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. Police Officers here earn $64,320 on average, placing the state 38th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.87 (U.S. = 1.00), a South Dakota salary of $64,320 is roughly equivalent to $73,931 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Maine ($69,830), Montana ($69,540), Wyoming ($67,080) are the closest alternatives for Police Officers 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 +51.4% vs this role
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $91,060/yr South Dakota +41.6% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $81,140/yr South Dakota +26.2% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $53,260/yr South Dakota 17.2% vs this role
- Firefighters $51,180/yr South Dakota 20.4% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $44,210/yr South Dakota 31.3% vs this role
- Security Guards $40,250/yr South Dakota 37.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Police Officers salary in South Dakota?
The average Police Officers salary in South Dakota is $64,320 per year (median $60,740), which is 18.8% below the national average of $79,200.
How does South Dakota rank for Police Officers pay?
South Dakota ranks 38th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($112,980/yr).
How much do entry-level Police Officers make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Police Officers in South Dakota earn about $47,540 per year and the 25th percentile is $52,330.
How much do Police Officers make per hour in South Dakota?
About $30.92 per hour, based on the $64,320 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Police Officers work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 2,000 Police Officers jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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