Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary
In South Dakota, education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares earn $63,240 at the median, or about $30.41 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $70,353 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 23.2% 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 $63K get you in South Dakota?
About education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Dakota
Education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $63K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 23.1% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare 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 | $64K | +1% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 23.1% 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,508/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $63K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares?
South Dakota pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares make in South Dakota?
The median is $63,240 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,800, and experienced education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares can clear $77,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,404/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 23.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare 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 education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary is worth about $70,353 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycares 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.