Carpenters Salary
Carpenters in South Dakota make a median of $48,140 a year, or about $23.14 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $53,554 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 29.4% 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 $48K get you in South Dakota?
About carpenters
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for carpenters in South Dakota runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $61K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level carpenters (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Carpenters 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 | $49K | +3% | 1,640 |
| Rapid City | $49K | +1% | 870 |
Compare to other states
Track carpenters 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 carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 30% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for carpenters in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new carpenters typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,263/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is carpenter a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $48K here vs. $61K 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 carpenters?
South Dakota pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do carpenters make in South Dakota?
The median is $48,140 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,720, and experienced carpenters can clear $65,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,393/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 30% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a carpenters 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 carpenters salary is worth about $53,554 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do carpenters 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.