Animal Scientists Salary
The median pay for a animal scientists in South Dakota is $77,300/year ($37.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $85,994 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $77K get you in South Dakota?
About animal scientists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
South Dakota sits well above the national pay line for animal scientists, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $69K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 19.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, South Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for animal scientistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level animal scientists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track animal scientists 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 animal scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 19.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for animal scientists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new animal scientists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,040/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is animal scientist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $77K here vs. $69K nationally.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for animal scientists?
South Dakota pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $69K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do animal scientists make in South Dakota?
The median is $77,300 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,660, and experienced animal scientists can clear $101,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,231/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 19.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a animal scientists 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 animal scientists salary is worth about $85,994 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do animal scientists 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.