South Dakota Median
$47,790
per year
Hourly Rate
$22.98
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-14% vs US median
US median $55,570
State Rank
#34 of 50
560 employed here
How much do Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants make in South Dakota?
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in South Dakota take home a median of $47,790 annually — roughly $22.98 an hour — which runs 14% below the national median of $55,570.
Within South Dakota, entry-level pay starts around $37,540 while the top 10% make $58,300 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $42,790 and $51,010 a year.
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary range in South Dakota
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,540 | $18.05 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $42,790 | $20.57 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $47,790 | $22.98 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $51,010 | $24.52 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,300 | $28.03 |
|
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota ranks 34th out of 50 states and territories for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary in other states
District of Columbia $99,280New York $72,230Connecticut $66,220Delaware $66,130Minnesota $63,180New Jersey $63,080Rhode Island $63,020California $62,860Massachusetts $62,120Maryland $61,440Alaska $61,280Oregon $59,610Colorado $59,490Washington $58,360New Mexico $57,800Michigan $56,870Nevada $56,470Wisconsin $55,410Virginia $55,320Arizona $55,120North Dakota $53,540Utah $52,860South Carolina $52,840Illinois $52,790New Hampshire $51,830Pennsylvania $51,430Ohio $51,080Hawaii $49,460Vermont $49,090Florida $48,510Georgia $48,460Louisiana $48,050Maine $48,040Indiana $47,740West Virginia $46,960Wyoming $46,960Iowa $46,590Alabama $45,950Oklahoma $45,950Texas $45,940Nebraska $45,800Tennessee $45,340Mississippi $45,140North Carolina $43,720Idaho $41,880Arkansas $41,410Kentucky $39,300Missouri $38,560Kansas $36,620
Working as Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in South Dakota
Nationally, about 156,000 people work as Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare South Dakota pay ($47,790) 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 do Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants make in South Dakota?
The median Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants salary in South Dakota is $47,790 per year, or about $22.98 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $37,540 at the entry level to $58,300 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Dakota pay compare to the national average?
South Dakota pays Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants about 14% less than the national median of $55,570. South Dakota ranks 34th out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Dakota a good state for Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $47,790 a year. About 560 Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 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 Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants 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.