Jobs that lost the most to inflation in South Dakota

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

Cost of living: prices in South Dakota run 11.4% below the national average (2024), so a South Dakota salary is worth about 1.13× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in South Dakota.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in South Dakota

OccupationMedian, South Dakota · Real change since 2019

1Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$47,840
Associate's degree
$43,780 – $78,940-34.0%-16.9% nominal
2Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$76,570
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,490 – $126,370-28.6%-10.2% nominal
3Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$84,150
Bachelor's degree
$71,910 – $150,890-25.7%-6.4% nominal
4Education Teachers, Postsecondary$63,350
Doctoral or professional degree
$55,550 – $82,690-24.6%-5.1% nominal
5Locomotive Engineers$69,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,730 – $81,640-24.5%-4.9% nominal
6Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$63,380
Master's degree
$51,360 – $81,890-24.0%-4.3% nominal
7Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$66,630
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,160 – $97,260-23.7%-4.0% nominal
8Instructional Coordinators$57,910
Master's degree
$46,910 – $89,590-22.9%-3.0% nominal
9Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$27,840
Bachelor's degree
$25,560 – $34,700-22.3%-2.1% nominal
10Dentists, General$158,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$94,560 – $250,780-22.3%-2.2% nominal
11Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,630 – $88,000-19.5%+1.4% nominal
12Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,340
Associate's degree
$47,180 – $85,510-18.0%+3.3% nominal
13Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$39,840
Bachelor's degree
$27,620 – $65,130-17.1%+4.4% nominal
14Sheet Metal Workers$47,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,420 – $86,780-16.9%+4.6% nominal
15Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$44,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $63,130-16.3%+5.5% nominal
16Brickmasons and Blockmasons$60,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,000 – $86,020-16.2%+5.6% nominal
17Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$75,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$52,040 – $106,900-15.9%+5.9% nominal
18Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$78,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,270 – $134,040-14.5%+7.7% nominal
19Business Teachers, Postsecondary$72,650
Doctoral or professional degree
$51,260 – $139,230-14.4%+7.7% nominal
20Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$55,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,360 – $73,130-14.3%+7.9% nominal
21Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$49,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,370 – $74,800-13.7%+8.6% nominal
22Packers and Packagers, Hand$28,760
No formal educational credential
$24,110 – $43,560-13.5%+8.9% nominal
23Producers and Directors$60,260
Bachelor's degree
$38,140 – $109,180-13.1%+9.4% nominal
24Optometrists$102,320
Doctoral or professional degree
$90,560 – $174,920-13.1%+9.5% nominal
25Biological Scientists, All Other$73,920
Bachelor's degree
$49,940 – $100,420-12.8%+9.8% nominal
26Real Estate Sales Agents$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $110,160-12.7%+9.9% nominal
27Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$48,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,900 – $77,110-12.6%+10.0% nominal
28Industrial Production Managers$107,490
Bachelor's degree
$82,620 – $162,240-12.3%+10.5% nominal
29Chemists$67,440
Bachelor's degree
$51,270 – $101,030-12.3%+10.4% nominal
30Sales Managers$136,360
Bachelor's degree
$72,510 – $219,050-12.2%+10.6% nominal
31Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$48,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $61,980-11.9%+11.0% nominal
32Speech-Language Pathologists$65,680
Master's degree
$54,740 – $98,810-11.9%+11.0% nominal
33Chiropractors$76,210
Doctoral or professional degree
$58,770 – $113,180-11.8%+11.1% nominal
34First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$64,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,010 – $82,080-11.8%+11.0% nominal
35Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$88,390
Master's degree
$74,770 – $109,270-11.8%+11.1% nominal
36Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$63,240
Bachelor's degree
$41,800 – $77,690-11.2%+11.8% nominal
37Special Education Teachers, Middle School$51,360
Bachelor's degree
$46,680 – $60,120-10.8%+12.3% nominal
38Millwrights$61,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,790 – $74,600-10.4%+12.8% nominal
39Glaziers$47,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,920 – $58,700-10.2%+13.1% nominal
40Insurance Underwriters$83,130
Bachelor's degree
$58,980 – $152,720-10.1%+13.3% nominal
41Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$50,980
Bachelor's degree
$47,000 – $60,790-10.0%+13.4% nominal
42Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$50,130
Bachelor's degree
$47,120 – $60,180-9.6%+13.9% nominal
43Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$31,980
No formal educational credential
$26,810 – $43,070-9.5%+14.0% nominal
44Chefs and Head Cooks$48,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,450 – $57,820-9.5%+14.0% nominal
45First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$105,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,110 – $177,380-9.4%+14.0% nominal
46Butchers and Meat Cutters$37,310
No formal educational credential
$33,830 – $56,060-9.3%+14.3% nominal
47First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,580 – $107,300-9.0%+14.7% nominal
48Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$28,220
Some college, no degree
$24,800 – $35,410-9.0%+14.6% nominal
49Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$51,050
Bachelor's degree
$47,130 – $62,040-8.9%+14.7% nominal
50Surveyors$77,190
Bachelor's degree
$59,690 – $122,560-8.7%+14.9% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianSouth Dakota	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersAssociate's degree	$47,840	$43,780 – $78,940	-34.0%-16.9% nominal
2	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$76,570	$58,490 – $126,370	-28.6%-10.2% nominal
3	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$84,150	$71,910 – $150,890	-25.7%-6.4% nominal
4	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$63,350	$55,550 – $82,690	-24.6%-5.1% nominal
5	Locomotive EngineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,180	$62,730 – $81,640	-24.5%-4.9% nominal
6	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$63,380	$51,360 – $81,890	-24.0%-4.3% nominal
7	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$66,630	$59,160 – $97,260	-23.7%-4.0% nominal
8	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$57,910	$46,910 – $89,590	-22.9%-3.0% nominal
9	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$27,840	$25,560 – $34,700	-22.3%-2.1% nominal
10	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$158,140	$94,560 – $250,780	-22.3%-2.2% nominal
11	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,000	$42,630 – $88,000	-19.5%+1.4% nominal
12	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,340	$47,180 – $85,510	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
13	Teaching Assistants, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$39,840	$27,620 – $65,130	-17.1%+4.4% nominal
14	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,800	$38,420 – $86,780	-16.9%+4.6% nominal
15	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,610	$38,110 – $63,130	-16.3%+5.5% nominal
16	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,380	$44,000 – $86,020	-16.2%+5.6% nominal
17	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$75,540	$52,040 – $106,900	-15.9%+5.9% nominal
18	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,720	$59,270 – $134,040	-14.5%+7.7% nominal
19	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$72,650	$51,260 – $139,230	-14.4%+7.7% nominal
20	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,690	$46,360 – $73,130	-14.3%+7.9% nominal
21	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,560	$35,370 – $74,800	-13.7%+8.6% nominal
22	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$28,760	$24,110 – $43,560	-13.5%+8.9% nominal
23	Producers and DirectorsBachelor's degree	$60,260	$38,140 – $109,180	-13.1%+9.4% nominal
24	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,320	$90,560 – $174,920	-13.1%+9.5% nominal
25	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$73,920	$49,940 – $100,420	-12.8%+9.8% nominal
26	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$45,970 – $110,160	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
27	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,490	$33,900 – $77,110	-12.6%+10.0% nominal
28	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$107,490	$82,620 – $162,240	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
29	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$67,440	$51,270 – $101,030	-12.3%+10.4% nominal
30	Sales ManagersBachelor's degree	$136,360	$72,510 – $219,050	-12.2%+10.6% nominal
31	Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,250	$41,600 – $61,980	-11.9%+11.0% nominal
32	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$65,680	$54,740 – $98,810	-11.9%+11.0% nominal
33	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$76,210	$58,770 – $113,180	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
34	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,780	$44,010 – $82,080	-11.8%+11.0% nominal
35	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$88,390	$74,770 – $109,270	-11.8%+11.1% nominal
36	Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and DaycareBachelor's degree	$63,240	$41,800 – $77,690	-11.2%+11.8% nominal
37	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$51,360	$46,680 – $60,120	-10.8%+12.3% nominal
38	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,820	$50,790 – $74,600	-10.4%+12.8% nominal
39	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,140	$42,920 – $58,700	-10.2%+13.1% nominal
40	Insurance UnderwritersBachelor's degree	$83,130	$58,980 – $152,720	-10.1%+13.3% nominal
41	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$50,980	$47,000 – $60,790	-10.0%+13.4% nominal
42	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$50,130	$47,120 – $60,180	-9.6%+13.9% nominal
43	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$31,980	$26,810 – $43,070	-9.5%+14.0% nominal
44	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,470	$37,450 – $57,820	-9.5%+14.0% nominal
45	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,680	$61,110 – $177,380	-9.4%+14.0% nominal
46	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$37,310	$33,830 – $56,060	-9.3%+14.3% nominal
47	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,810	$53,580 – $107,300	-9.0%+14.7% nominal
48	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$28,220	$24,800 – $35,410	-9.0%+14.6% nominal
49	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$51,050	$47,130 – $62,040	-8.9%+14.7% nominal
50	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$77,190	$59,690 – $122,560	-8.7%+14.9% nominal

More for South Dakota

Metro areas in South Dakota

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in South Dakota

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in South Dakota to rank honestly.

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in South Dakota

More for South Dakota

Metro areas in South Dakota

By field in South Dakota

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state