South Dakota Median
$88,610
per year
Hourly Rate
$42.60
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-2% vs US median
US median $90,150
State Rank
#27 of 51
250 employed here
How much do Occupational Health and Safety Specialists make in South Dakota?
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in South Dakota take home a median of $88,610 annually — roughly $42.60 an hour — which runs 2% below the national median of $90,150.
Within South Dakota, entry-level pay starts around $48,590 while the top 10% make $121,840 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $73,320 and $100,420 a year.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary range in South Dakota
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,590 | $23.36 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $73,320 | $35.25 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $88,610 | $42.60 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $100,420 | $48.28 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,840 | $58.58 |
|
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota ranks 27th out of 51 states and territories for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary in other states
District of Columbia $111,530Massachusetts $103,970Washington $102,920California $102,840Rhode Island $101,740Colorado $101,400New Hampshire $101,260Alaska $99,270Illinois $98,270Maine $97,640Minnesota $96,990Connecticut $96,110New York $95,720Oregon $95,240Hawaii $94,840Nevada $94,360Wyoming $94,030North Dakota $93,250Maryland $91,820Ohio $91,460Virginia $90,800New Jersey $90,610Utah $90,200Louisiana $89,560Arizona $89,480Florida $88,820South Carolina $88,080Iowa $87,830Vermont $87,210Pennsylvania $87,050Idaho $86,920North Carolina $86,650West Virginia $86,560Kansas $86,300Georgia $85,450Wisconsin $84,750New Mexico $84,510Mississippi $84,490Michigan $84,080Nebraska $83,990Kentucky $83,730Indiana $83,470Missouri $83,090Alabama $82,260Montana $81,330Tennessee $81,190Delaware $81,120Oklahoma $79,890Texas $79,660Arkansas $73,130
Working as Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in South Dakota
Nationally, about 141,000 people work as Occupational Health and Safety Specialists 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 ($88,610) 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 Occupational Health and Safety Specialists make in South Dakota?
The median Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary in South Dakota is $88,610 per year, or about $42.60 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $48,590 at the entry level to $121,840 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Dakota pay compare to the national average?
South Dakota pays Occupational Health and Safety Specialists about 2% less than the national median of $90,150. South Dakota ranks 27th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Dakota a good state for Occupational Health and Safety Specialists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $88,610 a year. About 250 Occupational Health and Safety 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 Occupational Health and Safety Specialists 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.