Helpers--Carpenters Salary
In South Dakota, helpers--carpenters earn $34,700 at the median, or about $16.68 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $38,603 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 40.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $35K get you in South Dakota?
About helpers--carpenters
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for helpers--carpenters in South Dakota runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $44K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,017/month, which is 40.8% 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 helpers--carpenterss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level helpers--carpenters (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Carpenters 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 | $36K | +4% | 110 |
| Rapid City | $31K | -11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--carpenters 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 helpers--carpenter afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 40.8% 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 $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--carpenters in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--carpenters typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,645/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--carpenter a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $35K here vs. $44K 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 helpers--carpenters?
South Dakota pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $44K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do helpers--carpenters make in South Dakota?
The median is $34,700 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,420, and experienced helpers--carpenters can clear $46,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,493/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 40.8% 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 helpers--carpenters 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 helpers--carpenters salary is worth about $38,603 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--carpenters 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.