Anthropologists and Archeologists Salary
The median pay for a anthropologists and archeologists in South Dakota is $63,130/year ($30.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $70,230 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 23.2% 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 $63K get you in South Dakota?
About anthropologists and archeologists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for anthropologists and archeologists in South Dakota runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $71K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 23.1% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, South Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for anthropologists and archeologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level anthropologists and archeologists (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $47K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track anthropologists and archeologists 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 anthropologists and archeologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 23.1% 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 anthropologists and archeologists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new anthropologists and archeologists typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,007/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is anthropologists and archeologist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $63K here vs. $71K 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 anthropologists and archeologists?
South Dakota pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $71K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do anthropologists and archeologists make in South Dakota?
The median is $63,130 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,110, and experienced anthropologists and archeologists can clear $97,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,397/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 23.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a anthropologists and archeologists 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 anthropologists and archeologists salary is worth about $70,230 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do anthropologists and archeologists 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.