Physical Therapists in South Dakota. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Physical Therapists in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of $89,240 in 2024, about 13% below the US median of $102,556. That gap is real, but it does not tell the whole story.
South Dakota's cost of living index sits at 89.7, meaning everyday expenses run roughly 10% below the national baseline. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective median lands closer to $99,500 in national-baseline dollars. The headline gap narrows to around 3%.
The pay range here is relatively tight. The 10th percentile came in at $67,670 and the 90th at $106,710, a spread of about $39,000 from the lowest earners to the top. That is a narrower range than we see in many coastal states, where senior PTs or those in specialized settings can push well past $120,000. What it suggests: the ceiling is lower, but so is the floor. Early-career physical therapists in South Dakota are not starting far behind their national peers on a cost-adjusted basis.
BLS projects employment for Physical Therapists to grow 10.9% from 2024 to 2034, an outlook BLS categories as faster than average. South Dakota has about 940 physical therapists in the workforce. In a smaller state with a growing older population and a rural healthcare system that tends to rely on allied health professionals, that growth rate is plausible. Whether it translates into wage pressure upward over the next decade is something we will track as new OES releases come in.
Salary distribution
Where South Dakota physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,380 and $103,630, with a median of $92,660.
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Physical Therapists 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
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- 02
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- 03
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- 04
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- 05
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- 06
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- 07
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- 08
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+10.9%
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 Physical Therapists in South Dakota?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in South Dakota is $92,660.
- How does South Dakota compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The South Dakota median is -11.3% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in South Dakota?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $77,890 and the 90th-percentile at $107,870, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Physical Therapists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 10.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Physical Therapists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional 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.