Industrial Machinery Mechanics Salary
Industrial Machinery Mechanics in South Dakota make a median of $61,560 a year, or about $29.6 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $68,484 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 23.8% 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 $62K get you in South Dakota?
About industrial machinery mechanics
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Industrial machinery mechanics pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 23.7% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level industrial machinery mechanics (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 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 | $64K | +4% | 90 |
| Sioux Falls | $62K | +1% | 430 |
Compare to other states
Track industrial machinery mechanics 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 industrial machinery mechanic afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 23.7% 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 industrial machinery mechanics in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new industrial machinery mechanics typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,911/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is industrial machinery mechanic a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for industrial machinery mechanics?
South Dakota pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do industrial machinery mechanics make in South Dakota?
The median is $61,560 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,510, and experienced industrial machinery mechanics can clear $77,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,292/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 23.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a industrial machinery mechanics 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 industrial machinery mechanics salary is worth about $68,484 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do industrial machinery mechanics 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.