Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
In South Dakota, environmental engineering technologists and technicians earn $53,960 at the median, or about $25.94 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $60,029 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 27.1% 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 $54K get you in South Dakota?
About environmental engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Environmental engineering technologists and technicians pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.9% 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track environmental engineering technologists and technicians 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 environmental engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 26.9% 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,312/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 environmental engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for environmental engineering technologists and technicians?
South Dakota pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental engineering technologists and technicians make in South Dakota?
The median is $53,960 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,540, and experienced environmental engineering technologists and technicians can clear $63,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,783/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 26.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a environmental engineering technologists and technicians 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $60,029 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental engineering technologists and technicians 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.