Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in South Dakota is $158,140/year ($76.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $95K at the entry level to $251K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $175,926 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 10% 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 $158K get you in South Dakota?
About dentists, generals
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Dentists, general pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $158K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 10.3% 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 dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $95K. Mid-career wages sit at $158K. Top earners bring in $251K or more, a $156K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General 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 | $181K | +15% | 130 |
| Rapid City | $158K | +0% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track dentists, general 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 dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $158K, rent takes 10.3% 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 dentists, generals in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $95K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,674/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 18% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $158K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
South Dakota pays $158K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $176K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in South Dakota?
The median is $158,140 a year, that works out to about $76 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $94,560, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $250,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $158K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,903/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 10.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dentists, general 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 dentists, general salary is worth about $175,926 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dentists, generals 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.