Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Salary
The median pay for a automotive service technicians and mechanics in South Dakota is $51,160/year ($24.6/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $56,914 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 28.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in South Dakota?
About automotive service technicians and mechanics
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Automotive service technicians and mechanics pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $51K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level automotive service technicians and mechanics (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $59K | +16% | 720 |
| Rapid City | $59K | +15% | 360 |
Compare to other states
Track automotive service technicians and mechanics 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 automotive service technicians and mechanic afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 28.3% 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 automotive service technicians and mechanics in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new automotive service technicians and mechanics typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,320/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is automotive service technicians and mechanic a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $51K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for automotive service technicians and mechanics?
South Dakota pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do automotive service technicians and mechanics make in South Dakota?
The median is $51,160 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,670, and experienced automotive service technicians and mechanics can clear $80,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 28.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a automotive service technicians and mechanics 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 automotive service technicians and mechanics salary is worth about $56,914 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do automotive service technicians and mechanics 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.