Cartographers and Photogrammetrists Salary
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists in South Dakota make a median of $72,910 a year, or about $35.05 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $81,110 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 20.1% 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 $73K get you in South Dakota?
About cartographers and photogrammetrists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Cartographers and photogrammetrists pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $81K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 20.5% 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 cartographers and photogrammetrists (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $80K | +10% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track cartographers and photogrammetrists 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 cartographers and photogrammetrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 20.5% 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 cartographers and photogrammetrists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new cartographers and photogrammetrists typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,538/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is cartographers and photogrammetrist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $81K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for cartographers and photogrammetrists?
South Dakota pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do cartographers and photogrammetrists make in South Dakota?
The median is $72,910 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,300, and experienced cartographers and photogrammetrists can clear $96,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,973/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 20.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a cartographers and photogrammetrists 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 cartographers and photogrammetrists salary is worth about $81,110 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cartographers and photogrammetrists 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.