Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance Salary
The median pay for a dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in South Dakota is $43,920/year ($21.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $56K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $48,860 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 32.2% 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 $44K get you in South Dakota?
About dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance in South Dakota runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.7% 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 dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $56K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance 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 | +13% | 510 |
| Rapid City | $45K | +2% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance 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 dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $44K, rent takes 32.7% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,831/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $44K here vs. $50K 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 dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances?
South Dakota pays $44K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $49K — below the national median.
How much do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances make in South Dakota?
The median is $43,920 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,510, and experienced dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances can clear $55,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,111/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 32.7% 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 dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance 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 dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance salary is worth about $48,860 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulances 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.