Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse Salary
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouses in South Dakota make a median of $42,260 a year, or about $20.32 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $47,013 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in South Dakota?
About farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses
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What this looks like in South Dakota
South Dakota sits well above the national pay line for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $36K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.9% 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 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse 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 | $44K | +4% | 60 |
| Rapid City | $37K | -13% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse 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 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 33.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,811/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $42K here vs. $36K nationally.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses?
South Dakota pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses make in South Dakota?
The median is $42,260 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,180, and experienced farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses can clear $50,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,000/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 33.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse 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 farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse salary is worth about $47,013 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouses 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.