Travel Agents Salary
In South Dakota, travel agents earn $44,510 at the median, or about $21.4 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $49,516 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,017/month, about 31.8% 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 $45K get you in South Dakota?
About travel agents
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for travel agents in South Dakota runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.3% 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 travel agents (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Travel Agents 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 | $45K | +1% | 70 |
| Rapid City | $38K | -15% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track travel agents 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 travel agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 32.3% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for travel agents in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new travel agents typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,202/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is travel agent a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $45K here vs. $50K 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 travel agents?
South Dakota pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do travel agents make in South Dakota?
The median is $44,510 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,700, and experienced travel agents can clear $61,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,150/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 32.3% 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 travel agents 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 travel agents salary is worth about $49,516 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do travel agents 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.