South Dakota Median
$57,370
per year
Hourly Rate
$27.58
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-10% vs US median
US median $64,070
State Rank
#44 of 51
190 employed here
How much does a Health Education Specialist make in South Dakota?
Health Education Specialists in South Dakota take home a median of $57,370 annually — roughly $27.58 an hour — which runs 10% below the national median of $64,070.
Within South Dakota, entry-level pay starts around $46,400 while the top 10% make $78,360 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $54,350 and $72,780 a year.
Health Education Specialist salary range in South Dakota
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,400 | $22.31 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $54,350 | $26.13 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,370 | $27.58 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $72,780 | $34.99 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,360 | $37.67 |
|
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota ranks 44th out of 51 states and territories for Health Education Specialist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Health Education Specialist salary in other states
Maryland $104,470District of Columbia $103,330Georgia $99,400Pennsylvania $80,670Minnesota $78,400Washington $77,420Iowa $75,750Oregon $75,500Rhode Island $75,360Colorado $74,150Wisconsin $74,040New Jersey $73,740Alaska $71,940New Hampshire $69,990Vermont $68,140Connecticut $66,870Kentucky $65,370Alabama $65,210Ohio $64,860South Carolina $64,720Virginia $64,040Hawaii $63,740California $63,610Arizona $63,390Delaware $63,300Kansas $62,990West Virginia $62,760Wyoming $62,750New York $62,560Oklahoma $62,440Arkansas $62,270Nevada $62,120Idaho $61,330Illinois $60,120Utah $59,790North Dakota $59,650Texas $59,340Maine $58,300Indiana $58,170North Carolina $58,080New Mexico $57,990Louisiana $57,840Massachusetts $57,510Missouri $57,050Nebraska $56,800Michigan $56,360Montana $51,200Mississippi $51,020Tennessee $49,630Florida $46,360
Working as a Health Education Specialist in South Dakota
Nationally, about 66,000 people work as Health Education Specialists in the United States. An associate degree (about 2 years of college) is the typical entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare South Dakota pay ($57,370) 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 Health Education Specialist make in South Dakota?
The median Health Education Specialist salary in South Dakota is $57,370 per year, or about $27.58 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $46,400 at the entry level to $78,360 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Dakota pay compare to the national average?
South Dakota pays Health Education Specialists about 10% less than the national median of $64,070. South Dakota ranks 44th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Dakota a good state for Health Education Specialists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $57,370 a year. About 190 Health Education Specialists 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 Health Education Specialist 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.