Data Scientist salary in South Dakota
Data Scientists in South Dakota earn a median of $96,150 a year ($46.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 220 workers.
Pay ranges from $67,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,510 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $120,230. South Dakota ranks 36th of 49 states for data scientists pay. There are 0.49 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.29). The average (mean) salary is $102,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,510 | $32.46 |
| 25th percentile | $83,810 | $40.29 |
| Median | $96,150 | $46.22 |
| 75th percentile | $123,260 | $59.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,510 | $69.96 |
| Average (mean) | $102,450 | $49.26 |
Half of data scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,012.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,006.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,698.08 |
| Weekly | $1,849.04 |
| Hourly | $46.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in cities in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $99,560 | 150 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $90,030 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
Related jobs in South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $96,310 | $46.30 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $75,010 | $36.06 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $48,260 | $23.20 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $99,790 | $47.98 |
| Information Security Analyst | $116,640 | $56.08 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $53,650 | $25.79 |
| Computer Network Architect | $153,390 | $73.75 |
| Web Developer | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $105,370 | $50.66 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $68,120 | $32.75 |
| Database Administrator | $82,540 | $39.69 |
| Computer Programmer | $58,240 | $28.00 |
| Database Architect | $136,540 | $65.64 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in South Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in South Dakota?
The median salary for data scientists in South Dakota is $96,150 a year, or $46.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $67,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of data scientists in South Dakota earn at least $145,510 a year. The top 25% earn $123,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $67,510 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $83,810 or less.
How many data scientists work in South Dakota?
About 220 data scientists are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.