Mechanical Engineer Salary
The median pay for a mechanical engineers in South Dakota is $88,380/year ($42.49/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $98,320 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 17.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $88K actually covers in South Dakota, month by month
About mechanical engineers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for mechanical engineers in South Dakota runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $104K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 17.3% 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 mechanical engineers who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level mechanical engineers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $88K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Mechanical Engineers 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 | $94K | +7% | 140 |
| Sioux Falls | $86K | -3% | 190 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a mechanical engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $88K, rent takes 17.3% 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 mechanical engineers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new mechanical engineers typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,517/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is mechanical engineer a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $88K here vs. $104K 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 mechanical engineers?
South Dakota pays $88K median vs. the U.S. average of $104K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do mechanical engineers make in South Dakota?
The median is $88,380 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,130, and experienced mechanical engineers can clear $134,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $88K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,880/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 17.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a mechanical engineers 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 mechanical engineers salary is worth about $98,320 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do mechanical engineers 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.