Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Salary in South Dakota (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in South Dakota, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
South Dakota Median
$41,700
per year
Hourly Rate
$20.05
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-12% vs US median
US median $47,540
State Rank
#44 of 51
6,120 employed here

How much do Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive make in South Dakota?

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive working in South Dakota earn a median salary of $41,700 per year, or about $20.05 per hour. That is 12% below the national median of $47,540 for this occupation.

Within South Dakota, entry-level pay starts around $31,200 while the top 10% make $51,480 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $36,280 and $47,670 a year.

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary range in South Dakota

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$31,200$15.00
25th percentile (early career)$36,280$17.44
50th percentile (median)$41,700$20.05
75th percentile (experienced)$47,670$22.92
90th percentile (top earners)$51,480$24.75

How South Dakota compares

South Dakota ranks 44th out of 51 states and territories for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1District of Columbia$59,910
2Massachusetts$57,940
3Washington$57,330
4Connecticut$57,210
5California$55,400

Working as Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive in South Dakota

Nationally, about 1,707,000 people work as Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 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 ($41,700) 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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive make in South Dakota?
The median Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive salary in South Dakota is $41,700 per year, or about $20.05 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $31,200 at the entry level to $51,480 for the top 10% of earners.
How does South Dakota pay compare to the national average?
South Dakota pays Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive about 12% less than the national median of $47,540. South Dakota ranks 44th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is South Dakota a good state for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $41,700 a year. About 6,120 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 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 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 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.