Broadcast Technicians Salary
In South Dakota, broadcast technicians earn $32,150 at the median, or about $15.46 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $55K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $35,766 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 44% of take-home, which is tight.
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 $32K get you in South Dakota?
About broadcast technicians
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for broadcast technicians in South Dakota runs about 46% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,017/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for broadcast technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level broadcast technicians (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $55K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track broadcast technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a broadcast technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $32K, rent takes 43.8% 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 $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for broadcast technicians in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new broadcast technicians typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,636/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is broadcast technician a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 46% below the national median — $32K here vs. $60K 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 broadcast technicians?
South Dakota pays $32K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -46%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $36K — below the national median.
How much do broadcast technicians make in South Dakota?
The median is $32,150 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,270, and experienced broadcast technicians can clear $55,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,323/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 43.8% 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 broadcast 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 broadcast technicians salary is worth about $35,766 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do broadcast 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.