Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas Salary
In South Dakota, earth drillers, except oil and gas earn $57,160 at the median, or about $27.48 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $63,589 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 25.6% 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.
Where the paycheck goes
What $57K actually covers in South Dakota, month by month
About earth drillers, except oil and gas
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Earth drillers, except oil and gas pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $57K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.4% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level earth drillers, except oil and gas (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track earth drillers, except oil and gas salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a earth drillers, except oil and ga afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 25.4% 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 earth drillers, except oil and gas in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new earth drillers, except oil and gas typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,405/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is earth drillers, except oil and ga a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $57K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for earth drillers, except oil and gas?
South Dakota pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do earth drillers, except oil and gas make in South Dakota?
The median is $57,160 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,310, and experienced earth drillers, except oil and gas can clear $70,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,997/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 25.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a earth drillers, except oil and gas 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 earth drillers, except oil and gas salary is worth about $63,589 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do earth drillers, except oil and gas 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.