Film and Video Editors Salary
Film and Video Editors in South Dakota make a median of $39,090 a year, or about $18.79 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $43,486 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 36.2% of take-home, which is tight.
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 $39K get you in South Dakota?
About film and video editors
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for film and video editors in South Dakota runs about 48% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,017/month, which is 36.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for film and video editorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level film and video editors (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track film and video editors 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 film and video editor afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 36.5% 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 $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for film and video editors in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new film and video editors typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,122/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is film and video editor a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 48% below the national median — $39K here vs. $75K 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 film and video editors?
South Dakota pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -48%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — below the national median.
How much do film and video editors make in South Dakota?
The median is $39,090 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,360, and experienced film and video editors can clear $54,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,787/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 36.5% 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 film and video editors 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 film and video editors salary is worth about $43,486 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do film and video editors 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.
