Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service Salary
The median pay for a mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service in South Dakota is $37,580/year ($18.07/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $41,807 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 37.6% 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 $38K get you in South Dakota?
About mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,017/month, which is 37.9% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service 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 | $38K | +1% | 150 |
| Rapid City | $36K | -5% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service 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 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 37.9% 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 $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,832/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 56% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services?
South Dakota pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services make in South Dakota?
The median is $37,580 a year, that works out to about $18 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,530, and experienced mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services can clear $47,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,686/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 37.9% 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 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service 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 mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal service salary is worth about $41,807 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mail clerks and mail machine operators, except postal services 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.