Tool and Die Makers Salary
In South Dakota, tool and die makers earn $59,770 at the median, or about $28.74 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $66,492 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 24.5% 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 $60K get you in South Dakota?
About tool and die makers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Tool and die makers pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 24.4% 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 tool and die makers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track tool and die makers 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 tool and die maker afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 24.4% 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 tool and die makers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tool and die makers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,630/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 39% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tool and die maker a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for tool and die makers?
South Dakota pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tool and die makers make in South Dakota?
The median is $59,770 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,830, and experienced tool and die makers can clear $69,940. 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 $4,172/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 24.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tool and die makers 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 tool and die makers salary is worth about $66,492 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tool and die makers 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.