Software Developer Salary
The median pay for a software developers in South Dakota is $96,310/year ($46.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $160K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $107,142 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 15.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $96K actually covers in South Dakota, month by month
About software developers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for software developers in South Dakota runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $136K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 16% 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 software developers who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level software developers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $160K or more, a $95K spread from bottom to top.
Software Developers 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 | $101K | +5% | 1,400 |
| Rapid City | $92K | -5% | 270 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a software developer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 16% 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 software developers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new software developers typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,541/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is software developer a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $96K here vs. $136K 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 software developers?
South Dakota pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $136K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — below the national median.
How much do software developers make in South Dakota?
The median is $96,310 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,530, and experienced software developers can clear $160,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,345/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 16% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a software developers 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 software developers salary is worth about $107,142 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do software developers 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.