Electrical Engineers in South Dakota. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Electrical Engineers in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of $101,930 in 2024, about 11% below the US median of $114,360. The gap is real, but it tells only part of the story.
South Dakota's cost of living runs roughly 10% below the national average. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, that $101,930 lands close to $113,600 in national-baseline dollars. The headline discount shrinks to less than 1%.
The pay range here is tighter than what we see in many other states. The 10th percentile came in at $75,590 and the 90th at $133,670, a spread of about $58,000 from bottom to top. For comparison, top earners make roughly 1.8 times what entry-level peers make. That is a moderate gap, which suggests the local job market skews toward mid-career roles rather than a wide mix of junior and highly specialized senior positions. Total employment was 440 in 2024, so this is a small professional community.
On the growth side, BLS projects a 7.1% increase in Electrical Engineer jobs nationally between 2024 and 2034, an outlook it classifies as faster than average. South Dakota's numbers are too small to carry a reliable state-level projection, so we use the national figure as the nearest available benchmark.
The mean wage of $101,620 sits just below the median, which is unusual. Normally a small group of high earners pulls the average above the midpoint. Here the two figures are nearly identical, which points to a fairly even spread of salaries across the local workforce rather than a few outliers at the top.
Salary distribution
Where South Dakota electrical engineers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $89,260 and $108,640, with a median of $98,980.
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Electrical Engineers pay by experience level in South Dakota
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in South Dakota over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.7 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Design, implement, maintain, or improve electrical instruments, equipment, facilities, components, products, or systems for commercial, industrial, or domestic purposes.
- 02
Oversee project production efforts to assure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- 03
Direct or coordinate manufacturing, construction, installation, maintenance, support, documentation, or testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, or customer requirements.
- 04
Perform detailed calculations to compute and establish manufacturing, construction, or installation standards or specifications.
- 05
Operate computer-assisted engineering or design software or equipment to perform engineering tasks.
- 06
Confer with engineers, customers, or others to discuss existing or potential engineering projects or products.
- 07
Investigate or test vendors' or competitors' products.
- 08
Collect data relating to commercial or residential development, population, or power system interconnection to determine operating efficiency of electrical systems.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+7.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Electrical Engineers in South Dakota?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Electrical Engineers in South Dakota is $98,980.
- How does South Dakota compare to the national median for Electrical Engineers?
- The South Dakota median is -13.9% versus the BLS national figure of $114,971.
- What is the salary range for Electrical Engineers in South Dakota?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $69,580 and the 90th-percentile at $138,210, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Electrical Engineers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 7.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Electrical Engineers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.