Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary
The median pay for a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in South Dakota is $51,050/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $56,792 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 28.7% 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 $51K get you in South Dakota?
About secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education in South Dakota runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $15K spread from bottom to top.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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 | $60K | +17% | 390 |
| Sioux Falls | $52K | +1% | 920 |
Compare to other states
Track secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 28.3% 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,828/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $51K here vs. $72K 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations?
South Dakota pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations make in South Dakota?
The median is $51,050 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,130, and experienced secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations can clear $62,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,588/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 28.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary is worth about $56,792 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical educations 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.