Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers Salary
The median pay for a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in South Dakota is $71,150/year ($34.21/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $79,152 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 20.6% 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 $71K get you in South Dakota?
About geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in South Dakota runs about 30% below the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 20.9% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, South Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 20.9% 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,677/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographer a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 30% below the national median — $71K here vs. $102K 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers?
South Dakota pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -30%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers make in South Dakota?
The median is $71,150 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,290, and experienced geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers can clear $78,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,870/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 20.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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 geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers salary is worth about $79,152 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers 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.