Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary
In South Dakota, excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings earn $48,250 at the median, or about $23.2 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $53,677 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 29.3% 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 $48K get you in South Dakota?
About excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in South Dakota runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $57K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining 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 | $48K | +0% | 50 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 29.9% 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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,496/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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $48K here vs. $57K 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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings?
South Dakota pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $57K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings make in South Dakota?
The median is $48,250 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,600, and experienced excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings can clear $61,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,401/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 29.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining 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 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary is worth about $53,677 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface minings 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.