Healthcare Social Workers Salary
In South Dakota, healthcare social workers earn $57,510 at the median, or about $27.65 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $63,978 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 25.5% 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 $58K get you in South Dakota?
About healthcare social workers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for healthcare social workers in South Dakota runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.3% 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 healthcare social workers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Healthcare Social Workers salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $78K | +35% | 140 |
| Sioux Falls | $59K | +2% | 260 |
Compare to other states
Track healthcare social workers 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 healthcare social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 25.3% 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 healthcare social workers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new healthcare social workers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,625/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is healthcare social worker a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $58K here vs. $68K 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 healthcare social workers?
South Dakota pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do healthcare social workers make in South Dakota?
The median is $57,510 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,750, and experienced healthcare social workers can clear $78,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,021/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 25.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a healthcare social workers 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 healthcare social workers salary is worth about $63,978 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do healthcare social workers 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.