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

Social Worker Salary in South Dakota

Median Annual in South Dakota
$51,100/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$24.57/hr
▼ 14% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in South Dakota

groups Employed in SD
2,050
public U.S. Median
$59,550
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$57,684 #35 of 51

Social Worker pay in South Dakota, explained

Social workers in South Dakota earn a median of $51,100 per year ($24.57 per hour), which is 14% below the national median of $59,550. Entry-level workers earn around $39,150, while the most experienced social workers reach about $67,310. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within South Dakota.

Is $51,100 good pay in South Dakota?

Adjusted for South Dakota's cost of living (which runs 89% of the U.S. average), that $51,100 is worth about $57,684 in national buying power — ranking South Dakota #35 for real pay (vs #40 on the sticker number).

See the full Social Worker Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Social Worker pay by experience in South Dakota

Entry level (10th pct)
$39,150
$18.82/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$51,100
$24.57/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$67,310
$32.36/hr

Social Worker pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs SD
South Dakota (here) $51,100 $57,684
Minnesota $67,450 $68,393 −$16,350
North Dakota $64,560 $72,573 −$13,460
Montana $56,780 $59,993 −$5,680
Wyoming $56,420 $60,869 −$5,320
Iowa $52,250 $59,536 −$1,150
Nebraska $47,770 $53,017 +$3,330

Social Worker in South Dakota: FAQ

How much do social workers make in South Dakota?

Social workers in South Dakota earn a median of $51,100 per year ($24.57 per hour), compared with $59,550 nationally.

Does South Dakota pay social workers well?

At $51,100, South Dakota pays 14% below the national median for social workers. An estimated 2,050 work in the state.

Social Worker salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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