Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In South Dakota, biological science teachers, postsecondaries earn $76,570 at the median. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $85,182 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 19.1% 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 biological science teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Biological science teachers, postsecondary pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $85K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 19.6% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level biological science teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track biological science teachers, postsecondary 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 biological science teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 19.6% 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 biological science teachers, postsecondaries in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biological science teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,509/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is biological science teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $85K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for biological science teachers, postsecondaries?
South Dakota pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $85K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do biological science teachers, postsecondaries make in South Dakota?
The median is $76,570 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,490, and experienced biological science teachers, postsecondaries can clear $126,370. 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 $5,188/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 19.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a biological science teachers, postsecondary 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 biological science teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $85,182 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biological science teachers, postsecondaries 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.