Medical Assistants Salary
The median pay for a medical assistants in South Dakota is $41,870/year ($20.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $49K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $46,579 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 33.8% 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 $42K get you in South Dakota?
About medical assistants
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Medical assistants pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $42K locally vs. $46K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.2% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level medical assistants (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $49K or more, a $13K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Assistants 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 | $44K | +5% | 620 |
| Rapid City | $41K | -3% | 240 |
Compare to other states
Track medical assistants 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 medical assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 34.2% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical assistants in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical assistants typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,159/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is medical assistant a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $42K locally vs. $46K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for medical assistants?
South Dakota pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical assistants make in South Dakota?
The median is $41,870 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,980, and experienced medical assistants can clear $48,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,973/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 34.2% 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 medical assistants 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 medical assistants salary is worth about $46,579 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical assistants 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.