Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in South Dakota make a median of $52,750 a year, or about $25.36 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $58,683 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 27.8% 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 $53K get you in South Dakota?
About licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in South Dakota runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $64K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% 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 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses 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 | $54K | +1% | 990 |
| Rapid City | $52K | -1% | 340 |
Compare to other states
Track licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 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 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 27.5% 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 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,446/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $53K here vs. $64K 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 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses?
South Dakota pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in South Dakota?
The median is $52,750 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,770, and experienced licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses can clear $67,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,702/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 27.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 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 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses salary is worth about $58,683 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses 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.