Human Resources Specialist salary in South Dakota
Human Resources Specialists in South Dakota earn a median of $67,590 a year ($32.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,550 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $75,940. South Dakota ranks 35th of 51 states for human resources specialists pay. There are 2.9 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.50). The average (mean) salary is $74,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,670 | $24.36 |
| 25th percentile | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| Median | $67,590 | $32.50 |
| 75th percentile | $88,100 | $42.36 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,550 | $50.26 |
| Average (mean) | $74,450 | $35.79 |
Half of human resources specialists 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 | $5,632.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,816.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,599.62 |
| Weekly | $1,299.81 |
| Hourly | $32.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Specialist salary in cities in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | $74,980 | 230 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $68,230 | 670 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $63,040 | 280 |
Highest-paying states for human resources specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 |
| Massachusetts | $85,630 |
| Washington | $84,550 |
| New York | $84,380 |
| Maryland | $83,910 |
| California | $83,500 |
| Connecticut | $82,890 |
| Virginia | $82,090 |
| Colorado | $80,840 |
| New Jersey | $80,690 |
Related jobs in South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Management Analyst | $83,620 | $40.20 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $63,490 | $30.53 |
| Project Management Specialist | $82,250 | $39.54 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $73,990 | $35.57 |
| Compliance Officer | $72,630 | $34.92 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,900 | $37.93 |
| Cost Estimator | $74,950 | $36.04 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $85,340 | $41.03 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $64,630 | $31.07 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| Logistician | $80,020 | $38.47 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $57,900 | $27.84 |
| Fundraiser | $66,800 | $32.11 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in South Dakota
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1071. 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 human resources specialist make in South Dakota?
The median salary for human resources specialists in South Dakota is $67,590 a year, or $32.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $104,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in South Dakota earn at least $104,550 a year. The top 25% earn $88,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,670 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $54,910 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in South Dakota?
About 1,340 human resources specialists are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.