Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in South Dakota make a median of $85,050 a year, or about $40.89 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $94,616 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 17.9% 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 $85K actually covers in South Dakota, month by month
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for occupational therapists in South Dakota runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 17.9% 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 occupational therapists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists 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 | $99K | +17% | 80 |
| Sioux Falls | $85K | -0% | 260 |
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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 occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 17.9% 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 occupational therapists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,558/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $85K here vs. $100K 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 occupational therapists?
South Dakota pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in South Dakota?
The median is $85,050 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,820, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $106,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,685/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 17.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a occupational therapists 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 occupational therapists salary is worth about $94,616 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do occupational therapists 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.