Exercise Physiologists Salary
In South Dakota, exercise physiologists earn $51,630 at the median, or about $24.82 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $57,437 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 28.4% 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 $52K get you in South Dakota?
About exercise physiologists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for exercise physiologists in South Dakota runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28% 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 exercise physiologists (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track exercise physiologists 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 exercise physiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 28% 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 exercise physiologists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new exercise physiologists typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,903/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is exercise physiologist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $52K here vs. $59K 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 exercise physiologists?
South Dakota pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do exercise physiologists make in South Dakota?
The median is $51,630 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,390, and experienced exercise physiologists can clear $71,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,627/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 28% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a exercise physiologists 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 exercise physiologists salary is worth about $57,437 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do exercise physiologists 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.