Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in South Dakota make a median of $48,160 a year, or about $23.15 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $53,577 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 firefighters
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for firefighters in South Dakota runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% 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 firefighters (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters 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 | $51K | +6% | 190 |
| Rapid City | $48K | +0% | 220 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters 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 firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $48K, rent takes 30% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,354/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is firefighter a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $48K 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 firefighters?
South Dakota pays $48K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in South Dakota?
The median is $48,160 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,240, and experienced firefighters can clear $61,420. 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 $3,395/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 30% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a firefighters 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 firefighters salary is worth about $53,577 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do firefighters 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.