Millwrights Salary
The median pay for a millwrights in South Dakota is $61,820/year ($29.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $68,773 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in South Dakota?
About millwrights
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Millwrights pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $66K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 23.6% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level millwrights (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Millwrights salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $64K | +4% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track millwrights 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 millwright afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 23.6% 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 millwrights in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new millwrights typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,047/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is millwright a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $66K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for millwrights?
South Dakota pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $66K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do millwrights make in South Dakota?
The median is $61,820 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,790, and experienced millwrights can clear $74,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,309/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 23.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a millwrights 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 millwrights salary is worth about $68,773 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do millwrights 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.