Writers and Authors Pay Range in South Dakota
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$45,760
- 25th Percentile — Junior$54,080
- 50th Percentile — Median$56,700
- 75th Percentile — Senior$59,710
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$68,890
Half of Writers and Authors in South Dakota earn more than $56,700. The top 10% make $68,890 or more, while entry-level workers start around $45,760.
Writers and Authors in South Dakota: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- South Dakota ranks 38th of 43 states for Writers and Authors pay, at $57,230 per year (33.5% below the U.S. average of $86,090).
- 60 people work as Writers and Authors in South Dakota — 0.1% of all U.S. Writers and Authors jobs.
- Location quotient 0.44: Writers and Authors jobs are less concentrated in South Dakota than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $45,760; the top 10% earn over $68,890.
- Hourly equivalent: $27.51 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $128,890.
- Among creative jobs in South Dakota, Interior Designers pays the most ($74,170).
Writers and Authors 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. Writers and Authors here earn $57,230 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 $57,230 is roughly equivalent to $65,782 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Arizona ($63,240), Iowa ($62,780), Kansas ($62,370) are the closest alternatives for Writers and Authors weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Creative Jobs in South Dakota
Related career salary benchmarks
- Interior Designers $74,170/yr South Dakota +29.6% vs this role
- Public Relations Specialists $71,890/yr South Dakota +25.6% vs this role
- Art Directors $69,360/yr South Dakota +21.2% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $65,090/yr South Dakota +13.7% vs this role
- Editors $60,200/yr South Dakota +5.2% vs this role
- Graphic Designers $50,880/yr South Dakota 11.1% vs this role
- Camera Operators Television Video Motion Picture $50,620/yr South Dakota 11.5% vs this role
- News Analysts Reporters and Journalists $44,010/yr South Dakota 23.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Writers and Authors salary in South Dakota?
The average Writers and Authors salary in South Dakota is $57,230 per year (median $56,700), which is 33.5% below the national average of $86,090.
How does South Dakota rank for Writers and Authors pay?
South Dakota ranks 38th out of 43 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($128,890/yr).
How much do entry-level Writers and Authors make in South Dakota?
The lowest-paid 10% of Writers and Authors in South Dakota earn about $45,760 per year and the 25th percentile is $54,080.
How much do Writers and Authors make per hour in South Dakota?
About $27.51 per hour, based on the $57,230 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Writers and Authors work in South Dakota?
BLS counts 60 Writers and Authors jobs in South Dakota (OEWS May 2025).
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