Agricultural Technicians Salary
The median pay for a agricultural technicians in South Dakota is $41,420/year ($19.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $46,079 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 34.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $41K get you in South Dakota?
About agricultural technicians
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for agricultural technicians in South Dakota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level agricultural technicians (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Agricultural Technicians salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $42K | +2% | 50 |
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Track agricultural technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a agricultural technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 34.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for agricultural technicians in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new agricultural technicians typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,096/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is agricultural technician a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $41K here vs. $50K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for agricultural technicians?
South Dakota pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $46K — below the national median.
How much do agricultural technicians make in South Dakota?
The median is $41,420 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,930, and experienced agricultural technicians can clear $54,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,943/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 34.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a agricultural technicians salary go in South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median agricultural technicians salary is worth about $46,079 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do agricultural technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.