South Dakota Median
$133,200
per year
Hourly Rate
$64.04
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-2% vs US median
US median $135,880
State Rank
#32 of 51
680 employed here
How much does a Physician Assistant make in South Dakota?
Physician Assistants in South Dakota take home a median of $133,200 annually — roughly $64.04 an hour — which runs 2% below the national median of $135,880.
Within South Dakota, entry-level pay starts around $104,660 while the top 10% make $158,020 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $112,570 and $142,330 a year.
Physician Assistant salary range in South Dakota
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,660 | $50.32 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $112,570 | $54.12 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $133,200 | $64.04 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $142,330 | $68.43 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,020 | $75.97 |
|
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota ranks 32nd out of 51 states and territories for Physician Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physician Assistant salary in other states
New Jersey $165,690California $165,650Washington $164,360Hawaii $164,050New York $160,880Oregon $155,780New Hampshire $150,960Alaska $150,700Vermont $150,490Massachusetts $142,410Montana $141,470Minnesota $141,190Rhode Island $139,930New Mexico $139,920Connecticut $139,860Delaware $139,350Maryland $137,560Oklahoma $136,550Wyoming $136,080Virginia $135,940District of Columbia $135,140Missouri $135,130Iowa $134,770Utah $134,740Nevada $134,660Arizona $134,650Texas $134,550Colorado $134,540Wisconsin $133,950Idaho $133,790North Dakota $133,450Nebraska $133,040Ohio $132,090Indiana $132,050Illinois $131,950Michigan $131,510Maine $131,170Florida $129,620North Carolina $129,360Louisiana $128,870West Virginia $128,610Pennsylvania $127,070Kansas $125,640South Carolina $122,490Kentucky $120,760Arkansas $118,430Tennessee $118,240Georgia $115,390Mississippi $105,920Alabama $104,960
Working as a Physician Assistant in South Dakota
Nationally, about 162,000 people work as Physician Assistants 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 ($133,200) 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 Physician Assistant make in South Dakota?
The median Physician Assistant salary in South Dakota is $133,200 per year, or about $64.04 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $104,660 at the entry level to $158,020 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Dakota pay compare to the national average?
South Dakota pays Physician Assistants about 2% less than the national median of $135,880. South Dakota ranks 32nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Dakota a good state for Physician Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $133,200 a year. About 680 Physician 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 Physician Assistant 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.