Electrical and Electronics Drafters Salary
In South Dakota, electrical and electronics drafters earn $50,840 at the median, or about $24.44 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $56,558 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 28.8% 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.
So what does $51K get you in South Dakota?
About electrical and electronics drafters
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for electrical and electronics drafters in South Dakota runs about 34% below the U.S. median of $77K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.5% 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 electrical and electronics drafters (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track electrical and electronics drafters 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 electrical and electronics drafter afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 28.5% 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 electrical and electronics drafters in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new electrical and electronics drafters typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,332/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is electrical and electronics drafter a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 34% below the national median — $51K here vs. $77K 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 electrical and electronics drafters?
South Dakota pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do electrical and electronics drafters make in South Dakota?
The median is $50,840 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,860, and experienced electrical and electronics drafters can clear $73,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,574/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 28.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a electrical and electronics drafters 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 electrical and electronics drafters salary is worth about $56,558 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do electrical and electronics drafters 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.