South Dakota Median
$74,950
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.03
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-5% vs US median
US median $78,740
State Rank
#40 of 51
1,030 employed here
How much does a Cost Estimator make in South Dakota?
Cost Estimators in South Dakota take home a median of $74,950 annually — roughly $36.03 an hour — which runs 5% below the national median of $78,740.
Within South Dakota, entry-level pay starts around $57,110 while the top 10% make $129,560 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $60,740 and $92,710 a year.
Cost Estimator salary range in South Dakota
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,110 | $27.46 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $60,740 | $29.20 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $74,950 | $36.03 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $92,710 | $44.57 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,560 | $62.29 |
|
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories for Cost Estimator pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Cost Estimator salary in other states
Massachusetts $100,840Alaska $97,020Wyoming $90,790Colorado $86,940Washington $86,070California $85,460Illinois $82,750District of Columbia $82,730Nevada $82,200Rhode Island $81,990Vermont $81,390Maryland $81,190Connecticut $81,030Minnesota $80,810New Jersey $80,570Virginia $80,530Oregon $80,460New York $80,430Hawaii $80,360Idaho $79,700Utah $79,610New Hampshire $79,560Delaware $79,290Pennsylvania $78,480Michigan $77,990Ohio $77,730West Virginia $77,480Montana $77,320Louisiana $77,030Arizona $77,010Texas $76,980Georgia $76,800Wisconsin $76,270Kansas $76,250Iowa $76,040Missouri $76,020Tennessee $75,650Alabama $74,990Florida $74,990Kentucky $74,880North Carolina $74,730Maine $74,080Indiana $73,430North Dakota $73,280Nebraska $73,100Mississippi $71,230South Carolina $70,260Oklahoma $67,800New Mexico $67,590Arkansas $61,470
Working as a Cost Estimator in South Dakota
Nationally, about 224,000 people work as Cost Estimators in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare South Dakota pay ($74,950) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cost Estimator make in South Dakota?
The median Cost Estimator salary in South Dakota is $74,950 per year, or about $36.03 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $57,110 at the entry level to $129,560 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Dakota pay compare to the national average?
South Dakota pays Cost Estimators about 5% less than the national median of $78,740. South Dakota ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Dakota a good state for Cost Estimators?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $74,950 a year. About 1,030 Cost Estimators are employed in South Dakota. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in South Dakota?
The highest-paying occupations in South Dakota include Radiologist ($586,010), Emergency Medicine Physician ($393,870), Obstetricians and Gynecologists ($297,610), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Cost Estimator salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.