South Dakota Median
$85,050
per year
Hourly Rate
$40.89
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-15% vs US median
US median $100,330
State Rank
#48 of 51
490 employed here
How much does an Occupational Therapist make in South Dakota?
Occupational Therapists in South Dakota take home a median of $85,050 annually — roughly $40.89 an hour — which runs 15% below the national median of $100,330.
Within South Dakota, entry-level pay starts around $65,820 while the top 10% make $106,520 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $80,720 and $99,940 a year.
Occupational Therapist salary range in South Dakota
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,820 | $31.64 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $80,720 | $38.81 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $85,050 | $40.89 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $99,940 | $48.05 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,520 | $51.21 |
|
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota ranks 48th out of 51 states and territories for Occupational Therapist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Occupational Therapist salary in other states
California $124,510Oregon $112,310Nevada $110,520District of Columbia $109,170Washington $107,670Maryland $106,980Colorado $106,720Arkansas $106,360Texas $106,140Oklahoma $104,300Georgia $104,010Alaska $103,680Arizona $103,660New Jersey $103,410Hawaii $102,870Connecticut $102,440Delaware $102,130South Carolina $101,130Massachusetts $100,930Virginia $100,710Rhode Island $100,040Illinois $99,700Ohio $99,390Florida $99,360Kansas $99,170New Mexico $99,170Louisiana $98,490Pennsylvania $98,440Idaho $97,760Tennessee $97,700Kentucky $97,650Missouri $97,290Utah $97,150Indiana $97,020New York $96,390West Virginia $96,190Mississippi $94,930Alabama $94,050Nebraska $93,740Vermont $93,340Minnesota $93,050North Carolina $92,940Wisconsin $92,390Iowa $89,910Michigan $89,910Montana $88,990Wyoming $86,170Maine $84,310New Hampshire $83,900North Dakota $83,200
Working as an Occupational Therapist in South Dakota
Nationally, about 162,000 people work as Occupational Therapists 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 ($85,050) 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 an Occupational Therapist make in South Dakota?
The median Occupational Therapist salary in South Dakota is $85,050 per year, or about $40.89 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $65,820 at the entry level to $106,520 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Dakota pay compare to the national average?
South Dakota pays Occupational Therapists about 15% less than the national median of $100,330. South Dakota ranks 48th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Dakota a good state for Occupational Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $85,050 a year. About 490 Occupational Therapists 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 Therapist 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.