Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in South Dakota is $88,650/year ($42.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $98,621 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 17.1% 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 $89K get you in South Dakota?
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for veterinarians in South Dakota runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $130K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 17.2% 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 veterinarianss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians 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 | $98K | +11% | 80 |
| Rapid City | $90K | +2% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track veterinarians 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 veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 17.2% 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 veterinarians in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,698/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is veterinarian a high-paying job in South Dakota?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $89K here vs. $130K 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 veterinarians?
South Dakota pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $99K — below the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in South Dakota?
The median is $88,650 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,640, and experienced veterinarians can clear $128,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,896/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 17.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a veterinarians 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 veterinarians salary is worth about $98,621 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do veterinarians 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.