Community Health Workers Salary
Community Health Workers in South Dakota make a median of $45,700 a year, or about $21.97 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $50,840 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 30.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in South Dakota?
About community health workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for community health workers in South Dakota runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $52K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.5% 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 community health workers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Community Health Workers 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 | +8% | 70 |
| Rapid City | $46K | +0% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track community health workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Community & Social
Frequently asked questions
Can a community health worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 31.5% 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 community health workers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new community health workers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,354/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is community health worker a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $46K here vs. $52K 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 community health workers?
South Dakota pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do community health workers make in South Dakota?
The median is $45,700 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,230, and experienced community health workers can clear $60,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,230/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 31.5% 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 community health workers 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 community health workers salary is worth about $50,840 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do community health workers 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.