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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Dental Assistant Salary in South Dakota

Median Annual in South Dakota
$47,900/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$23.03/hr
▬ 0% about even with U.S. median

Salary Distribution in South Dakota

groups Employed in SD
1,290
public U.S. Median
$48,070
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$54,072 #12 of 50

Dental Assistant pay in South Dakota, explained

Dental assistants in South Dakota earn a median of $47,900 per year ($23.03 per hour), in line with the national median of $48,070. Entry-level workers earn around $38,190, while the most experienced dental assistants reach about $60,310. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within South Dakota.

Is $47,900 good pay in South Dakota?

Adjusted for South Dakota's cost of living (which runs 89% of the U.S. average), that $47,900 is worth about $54,072 in national buying power — ranking South Dakota #12 for real pay (vs #26 on the sticker number).

See the full Dental Assistant Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Dental Assistant pay by experience in South Dakota

Entry level (10th pct)
$38,190
$18.36/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$47,900
$23.03/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$60,310
$29.00/hr

Dental Assistant pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs SD
South Dakota (here) $47,900 $54,072 —
Minnesota $65,270 $66,183 −$17,370
North Dakota $57,770 $64,940 −$9,870
Iowa $48,430 $55,183 −$530
Montana $46,680 $49,321 +$1,220
Nebraska $46,660 $51,785 +$1,240
Wyoming $44,990 $48,538 +$2,910

Dental Assistant in South Dakota: FAQ

How much do dental assistants make in South Dakota?

Dental assistants in South Dakota earn a median of $47,900 per year ($23.03 per hour), compared with $48,070 nationally.

Does South Dakota pay dental assistants well?

At $47,900, South Dakota pays about the same as the national median for dental assistants. An estimated 1,290 work in the state.

Dental Assistant salary in other states

Minnesota · $65,270 District of Columbia · $60,580 Maine · $60,070 New Hampshire · $59,530 Oregon · $59,490 Washington · $58,090 Massachusetts · $57,980 North Dakota · $57,770 Alaska · $57,710 Connecticut · $56,850 Vermont · $52,760 North Carolina · $50,380

All 50 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in South Dakota

Dental Hygienist $92,210/yr median Medical Assistant $41,870/yr median Dentist $158,140/yr median