Landscape Architects Salary
Landscape Architects in South Dakota make a median of $70,620 a year, or about $33.95 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $78,563 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 20.7% 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 $71K get you in South Dakota?
About landscape architects
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for landscape architects in South Dakota runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $80K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 21% 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 landscape architectss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level landscape architects (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Landscape Architects salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $71K | +0% | 50 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a landscape architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 21% 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 landscape architects in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new landscape architects typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,881/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is landscape architect a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $71K here vs. $80K 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 landscape architects?
South Dakota pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do landscape architects make in South Dakota?
The median is $70,620 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,690, and experienced landscape architects can clear $114,910. 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 $4,839/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 21% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a landscape architects 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 landscape architects salary is worth about $78,563 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do landscape architects 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.