Producers and Directors Salary
The median pay for a producers and directors in South Dakota is $60,260/year ($28.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $67,037 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 24.3% 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 $60K get you in South Dakota?
About producers and directors
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for producers and directors in South Dakota runs about 33% below the U.S. median of $90K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 24.2% 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 producers and directorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level producers and directors (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Producers and Directors 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 | $60K | -0% | 90 |
| Rapid City | $53K | -13% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track producers and directors 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 producers and director afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 24.2% 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 producers and directors in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new producers and directors typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,288/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is producers and director a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 33% below the national median — $60K here vs. $90K 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 producers and directors?
South Dakota pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — below the national median.
How much do producers and directors make in South Dakota?
The median is $60,260 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,140, and experienced producers and directors can clear $109,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,205/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 24.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a producers and directors 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 producers and directors salary is worth about $67,037 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do producers and directors 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.