Urban and Regional Planners Salary
Urban and Regional Planners in South Dakota make a median of $71,180 a year, or about $34.22 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $79,186 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in South Dakota?
About urban and regional planners
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for urban and regional planners in South Dakota runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $89K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 20.9% 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 urban and regional plannerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level urban and regional planners (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Urban and Regional Planners salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $66K | -7% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track urban and regional planners 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 urban and regional planner afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 20.9% 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 urban and regional planners in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new urban and regional planners typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,100/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is urban and regional planner a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $71K here vs. $89K 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 urban and regional planners?
South Dakota pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $89K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do urban and regional planners make in South Dakota?
The median is $71,180 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,670, and experienced urban and regional planners can clear $92,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,872/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 20.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a urban and regional planners 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 urban and regional planners salary is worth about $79,186 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do urban and regional planners 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.