Medical Transcriptionists Salary
The median pay for a medical transcriptionists in South Dakota is $46,070/year ($22.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $51,252 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 30.7% 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 $46K get you in South Dakota?
About medical transcriptionists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
South Dakota sits well above the national pay line for medical transcriptionists, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $40K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level medical transcriptionists (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Medical Transcriptionists 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 | $54K | +17% | 30 |
| Sioux Falls | $47K | +2% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track medical transcriptionists 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 transcriptionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 31.2% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical transcriptionists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical transcriptionists typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,170/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 transcriptionist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $46K here vs. $40K nationally.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for medical transcriptionists?
South Dakota pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical transcriptionists make in South Dakota?
The median is $46,070 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,160, and experienced medical transcriptionists can clear $59,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,255/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 31.2% 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 transcriptionists 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 transcriptionists salary is worth about $51,252 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do medical transcriptionists 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.