Logging Equipment Operators Salary
Logging Equipment Operators in South Dakota make a median of $58,740 a year, or about $28.24 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $65,347 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Dakota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in South Dakota?
About logging equipment operators
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What this looks like in South Dakota
South Dakota sits well above the national pay line for logging equipment operators, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 24.8% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, South Dakota offers a genuinely strong financial position for logging equipment operatorss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level logging equipment operators (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track logging equipment operators 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 logging equipment operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 24.8% 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 logging equipment operators in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new logging equipment operators typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,710/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is logging equipment operator a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $59K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for logging equipment operators?
South Dakota pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do logging equipment operators make in South Dakota?
The median is $58,740 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,170, and experienced logging equipment operators can clear $59,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,103/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 24.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a logging equipment operators 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 logging equipment operators salary is worth about $65,347 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do logging equipment operators 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.