Chemical Technicians Salary
Chemical Technicians in South Dakota make a median of $49,030 a year, or about $23.57 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $54,544 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 28.8% 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 $49K get you in South Dakota?
About chemical technicians
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for chemical technicians in South Dakota runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% 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 chemical technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track chemical technicians 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 chemical technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 29.5% 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 chemical technicians in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemical technicians typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,492/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemical technician a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $49K 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 chemical technicians?
South Dakota pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do chemical technicians make in South Dakota?
The median is $49,030 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,530, and experienced chemical technicians can clear $60,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,453/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemical 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 chemical technicians salary is worth about $54,544 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemical 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.