Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
In South Dakota, environmental scientists and specialists, including healths earn $68,230 at the median, or about $32.8 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $75,904 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 21.5% 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 $68K get you in South Dakota?
About environmental scientists and specialists, including healths
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for environmental scientists and specialists, including health in South Dakota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $82K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 21.6% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, South Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including healths (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health 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 | $76K | +11% | 40 |
| Rapid City | $68K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental scientists and specialists, including health 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 scientists and specialists, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 21.6% 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 scientists and specialists, including healths in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental scientists and specialists, including healths typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,963/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is environmental scientists and specialists, including health a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $68K here vs. $82K 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 environmental scientists and specialists, including healths?
South Dakota pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths make in South Dakota?
The median is $68,230 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,390, and experienced environmental scientists and specialists, including healths can clear $97,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,699/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 21.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a environmental scientists and specialists, including health 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 scientists and specialists, including health salary is worth about $75,904 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths 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.