Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary
In South Dakota, teaching assistants, except postsecondaries earn $28,220 at the median. The range runs from $25K at the entry level to $35K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $31,394 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 48.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $28K get you in South Dakota?
About teaching assistants, except postsecondaries
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in South Dakota runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $37K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,017/month, which is 49.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for teaching assistants, except postsecondarys.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level teaching assistants, except postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $25K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $35K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary 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 | $28K | +0% | 1,200 |
| Rapid City | $28K | -2% | 540 |
Compare to other states
Track teaching assistants, except postsecondary 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 49.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for teaching assistants, except postsecondaries in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new teaching assistants, except postsecondaries typically earn — is $25K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,488/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is teaching assistants, except postsecondary a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $28K here vs. $37K 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondaries?
South Dakota pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $37K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $31K — below the national median.
How much do teaching assistants, except postsecondaries make in South Dakota?
The median is $28,220 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $24,800, and experienced teaching assistants, except postsecondaries can clear $35,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,059/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 49.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a teaching assistants, except 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 teaching assistants, except postsecondary salary is worth about $31,394 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do teaching assistants, except 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.