What the numbers say
The median wage for Software Developers in South Dakota was $87,770 in 2024, about 37% below the national median of $138,520. That is one of the larger state-level gaps we see for this occupation. The average came in at $93,390, a bit above the median, which usually means a smaller group of senior developers is pulling the average up.
The spread from bottom to top is wide. Developers at the 10th percentile earned $59,510, while those at the 90th earned $130,610. Top earners made roughly 2.2 times what the lowest earners did. That range suggests experience, specialization, and employer type all move the needle significantly here.
South Dakota's cost of living sits about 10% below the national average, with a regional price index of 89.7. After adjusting for what the money actually buys, the effective gap against the national median narrows. A salary of $87,770 in South Dakota stretches closer to $97,800 in national-baseline dollars. That cuts the gap by about a third, though a meaningful difference remains.
BLS projects employment for this occupation to grow 15.8% between 2024 and 2034, a rate it classifies as much faster than average. South Dakota employs around 2,190 Software Developers in total, a small base by national standards, which means even modest hiring gains translate into a strong percentage increase.
Salary distribution
Where South Dakota software developers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $76,540 and $104,880, with a median of $87,770.
Software Developers in South Dakota: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 39 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $87,600. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 12 | $67,659 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $79,186 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $100,474 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 8 | $130,250 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Software Developers in South Dakota. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citibank, N.A. | Applications Development Tech Lead Analyst | 7 | $130,000 |
| Premier Bankcard LLC | Software Engineer III | 4 | $95,237 |
| KBR Wyle Services LLC | Software Engineer 2 - KBGFJG190398-2 | 4 | $72,284 |
| Computer Sciences Corporation | Sr Analyst I Software Engineering | 2 | $120,000 |
| Star Technology Solutions Inc | Senior Software Developer | 2 | $79,186 |
| Seven Seas Technologies, Inc. | Software Developer | 1 | $115,000 |
| Sanford Health | Manager, Software Development | 1 | $152,214 |
| MY3TECH INC | Sr. Software Engineer | 1 | $100,000 |
| Avera Health | Senior Application (Software) Developer | 1 | $94,640 |
| JARSoft Inc. | Software Engineer | 1 | $75,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Software Engineer III at Premier Bankcard LLC$90,000Sioux FallsDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-495760
- Software Developer at Seven Seas Technologies, Inc.$115,000PierreDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-479894
- Sr Analyst I Software Engineering at Computer Sciences Corporation$115,000Sioux FallsDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-441410
- Applications Development Tech Lead Analyst at Citibank, N.A.$127,500Sioux FallsDecided Nov 21, 2025I-200-25318-408389
- Manager, Software Development at Sanford Health$152,214Sioux FallsDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25307-362066
- Sr. Software Engineer at MY3TECH INC$100,000AberdeenDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-344682
- Applications Development Technology Lead Analyst at Citibank, N.A.$130,500Sioux FallsWage Level IVDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-324404
- Applications Development Tech Lead Analyst at Citibank, N.A.$126,350Sioux FallsWage Level IVDecided Sep 24, 2025I-200-25260-315708
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Software Developers 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.
Software Developers specialties in South Dakota
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 25 certified offers. The most common variant is Software Developer at a median of $79,186.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | Seven Seas Technologies, Inc. | 9 | $79,186 |
| Software Engineer | Premier Bankcard LLC | 8 | $83,393 |
| Applications Development Tech Lead Analyst | Citibank, N.A. | 4 | $128,750 |
| Software Engineer 2 - KBGFJG190398-2 | KBR Wyle Services LLC | 4 | $72,284 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Software Developers in South Dakota, by industry
Median offered wage across 39 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $82,233.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | Computer Sciences Corporation | 16 | $82,233 |
| Finance and insurance | Citibank, N.A. | 13 | $127,500 |
| Professional services | KBR Wyle Services LLC | 5 | $72,284 |
| Healthcare | Sanford Health | 2 | $123,427 |
| Retail and wholesale | RIDDLES GROUP INC | 2 | $56,000 |
| Manufacturing | CNH Industrial America LLC | 1 | $87,600 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in South Dakota over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
Common tasks (O*NET)
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+15.8%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Software Developers in South Dakota?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Software Developers in South Dakota is $87,770.
- How does South Dakota compare to the national median for Software Developers?
- The South Dakota median is -36.6% versus the BLS national figure of $138,520.
- What is the salary range for Software Developers in South Dakota?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $59,510 and the 90th-percentile at $130,610, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Software Developers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 15.8% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Software Developers?
- 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.