Microbiologists Salary
The median pay for a microbiologists in South Dakota is $70,530/year ($33.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $78,463 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 20.8% 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 $71K get you in South Dakota?
About microbiologists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for microbiologists in South Dakota runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $88K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 21% 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 microbiologistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level microbiologists (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $66K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track microbiologists 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 microbiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 21% 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 microbiologists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new microbiologists typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,449/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 42% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is microbiologist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $71K here vs. $88K 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 microbiologists?
South Dakota pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $88K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $78K — below the national median.
How much do microbiologists make in South Dakota?
The median is $70,530 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,820, and experienced microbiologists can clear $107,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,834/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 21% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a microbiologists 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 microbiologists salary is worth about $78,463 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do microbiologists 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.