Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in South Dakota is $146,790/year ($70.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $112K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $163,300 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 10.7% 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 $147K get you in South Dakota?
About pharmacists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Dakota
Pharmacists pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $147K locally vs. $141K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 11% 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 pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $112K. Mid-career wages sit at $147K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacists 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 | $148K | +1% | 690 |
| Rapid City | $140K | -4% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track pharmacists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $147K, rent takes 11% 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 pharmacists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $112K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,732/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 15% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $147K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for pharmacists?
South Dakota pays $147K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $163K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in South Dakota?
The median is $146,790 a year, that works out to about $71 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $112,200, and experienced pharmacists can clear $166,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $147K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,257/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 11% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a pharmacists 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 pharmacists salary is worth about $163,300 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pharmacists 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.