Physics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a physics teachers, postsecondary in South Dakota is $86,010/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $95,684 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 17.7% 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 $86K get you in South Dakota?
About physics teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for physics teachers, postsecondary in South Dakota runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 17.7% 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 physics teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level physics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $86K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track physics teachers, postsecondary 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 physics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $86K, rent takes 17.7% 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 physics teachers, postsecondaries in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,395/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physics teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $86K 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 physics teachers, postsecondaries?
South Dakota pays $86K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do physics teachers, postsecondaries make in South Dakota?
The median is $86,010 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,590, and experienced physics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $107,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $86K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,741/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 17.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physics teachers, postsecondary 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 physics teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $95,684 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physics teachers, postsecondaries 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.