Software Developer salary in South Dakota
Software Developers in South Dakota earn a median of $96,310 a year ($46.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,380 for the top 10%. That is 29% lower than the national median of $135,980. South Dakota ranks 49th of 50 states for software developers pay. There are 5.2 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $104,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,530 | $31.50 |
| 25th percentile | $79,810 | $38.37 |
| Median | $96,310 | $46.30 |
| 75th percentile | $121,190 | $58.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $160,380 | $77.11 |
| Average (mean) | $104,790 | $50.38 |
Half of software developers 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 | $8,025.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,012.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,704.23 |
| Weekly | $1,852.12 |
| Hourly | $46.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in cities in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $101,150 | 230 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $101,040 | 1,400 |
| Rapid City, SD | $91,840 | 270 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
Related jobs in South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Data Scientist | $96,150 | $46.22 |
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 15-1252. 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 software developer make in South Dakota?
The median salary for software developers in South Dakota is $96,310 a year, or $46.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $160,380 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of software developers in South Dakota earn at least $160,380 a year. The top 25% earn $121,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,530 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $79,810 or less.
How many software developers work in South Dakota?
About 2,380 software developers are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.