Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a psychology teachers, postsecondary in South Dakota is $65,020/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $72,333 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 22.5% 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 $65K get you in South Dakota?
About psychology teachers, postsecondaries
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for psychology teachers, postsecondary in South Dakota runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $80K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 22.5% 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 psychology teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level psychology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track psychology teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a psychology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 22.5% 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 psychology teachers, postsecondaries in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,532/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is psychology teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $65K here vs. $80K 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 psychology teachers, postsecondaries?
South Dakota pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do psychology teachers, postsecondaries make in South Dakota?
The median is $65,020 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,870, and experienced psychology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $111,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,511/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a psychology 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 psychology teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $72,333 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychology 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.