Surgical Technologists Salary
The median pay for a surgical technologists in South Dakota is $59,870/year ($28.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $66,604 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 24.5% 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 $60K actually covers in South Dakota, month by month
About surgical technologists
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Surgical technologists pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 24.3% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Technologists 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 | $62K | +3% | 110 |
| Sioux Falls | $54K | -10% | 310 |
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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 surgical technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 24.3% 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 surgical technologists in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical technologists typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,744/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surgical technologist a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for surgical technologists?
South Dakota pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical technologists make in South Dakota?
The median is $59,870 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,450, and experienced surgical technologists can clear $75,470. 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 $4,179/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 24.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a surgical technologists 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 surgical technologists salary is worth about $66,604 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surgical technologists 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.