Data Scientists Salary
The median pay for a data scientists in South Dakota is $96,150/year ($46.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $146K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $106,964 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 15.8% 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 $96K get you in South Dakota?
About data scientists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for data scientists in South Dakota runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $120K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 16.1% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, South Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for data scientistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level data scientists (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $146K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Data Scientists 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 | $100K | +4% | 150 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a data scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 16.1% 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 data scientists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new data scientists typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,051/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is data scientist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $96K here vs. $120K 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 data scientists?
South Dakota pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $120K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — below the national median.
How much do data scientists make in South Dakota?
The median is $96,150 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,510, and experienced data scientists can clear $145,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,336/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 16.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a data scientists 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 data scientists salary is worth about $106,964 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do data scientists 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.