Gas Plant Operators Salary
The median pay for a gas plant operators in South Dakota is $101,450/year ($48.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $105K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $112,860 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 15% 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 $101K get you in South Dakota?
About gas plant operators
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What this looks like in South Dakota
South Dakota sits well above the national pay line for gas plant operators, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $88K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 15.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, South Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for gas plant operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level gas plant operators (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $105K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track gas plant operators 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 gas plant operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 15.3% 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 gas plant operators in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new gas plant operators typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,012/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is gas plant operator a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $101K here vs. $88K nationally.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for gas plant operators?
South Dakota pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do gas plant operators make in South Dakota?
The median is $101,450 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,530, and experienced gas plant operators can clear $104,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,646/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 15.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a gas plant operators 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 gas plant operators salary is worth about $112,860 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do gas plant operators 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.