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

Police Officer Salary in South Dakota

Median Annual in South Dakota
$60,740/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$29.20/hr
▼ 20% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in South Dakota

groups Employed in SD
2,000
public U.S. Median
$76,210
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$68,566 #37 of 51

Police Officer pay in South Dakota, explained

Police officers in South Dakota earn a median of $60,740 per year ($29.20 per hour), which is 20% below the national median of $76,210. Entry-level workers earn around $47,540, while the most experienced police officers reach about $91,900. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within South Dakota.

Is $60,740 good pay in South Dakota?

Adjusted for South Dakota's cost of living (which runs 89% of the U.S. average), that $60,740 is worth about $68,566 in national buying power — ranking South Dakota #37 for real pay (vs #38 on the sticker number).

See the full Police Officer Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Police Officer pay by experience in South Dakota

Entry level (10th pct)
$47,540
$22.86/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$60,740
$29.20/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$91,900
$44.18/hr

Police Officer pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs SD
South Dakota (here) $60,740 $68,566
Minnesota $83,360 $84,526 −$22,620
Nebraska $74,620 $82,816 −$13,880
North Dakota $74,500 $83,746 −$13,760
Iowa $74,470 $84,854 −$13,730
Montana $70,050 $74,013 −$9,310
Wyoming $66,140 $71,355 −$5,400

Police Officer in South Dakota: FAQ

How much do police officers make in South Dakota?

Police officers in South Dakota earn a median of $60,740 per year ($29.20 per hour), compared with $76,210 nationally.

Does South Dakota pay police officers well?

At $60,740, South Dakota pays 20% below the national median for police officers. An estimated 2,000 work in the state.

Police Officer salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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