Cooks, Restaurant Salary in South Dakota
Cooks, Restaurant in South Dakota have a median of $36,220 a year, below the national $37,390 (−3%); the state ranks 35th of 51 states by median. That is 23% less than the median across all occupations in South Dakota ($47,080). Among neighbouring states, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming and North Dakota pay more (up to $38,590 in Minnesota) and Iowa pays less (down to $35,670 in Iowa). South Dakota employs 1,890 cooks, restaurant, 4.13 per 1,000 jobs, the 51st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.46 means it is less common in South Dakota than nationally.
South Dakota vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| South Dakota | Hourly | $14.49 | $15.89 | $17.42 | $18.71 | $21.63 | $17.66 | 1,890 | 4.13 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $30,140 | $33,040 | $36,220 | $38,910 | $44,990 | $36,720 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.80 | $16.35 | $17.98 | $21.45 | $23.03 | $18.62 | 1,409,890 | – | – |
| Annual | $28,700 | $34,010 | $37,390 | $44,620 | $47,900 | $38,730 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 35th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 51st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.46
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.13
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of South Dakota's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in South Dakota
3 metropolitan areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching South Dakota publish a row for cooks, restaurant, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $17.94 | $37,310 | $30,220 | $46,130 | 690 | 3.84 | 0.42 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $17.44 | $36,270 | $29,370 | $45,620 | 560 | 7.48 | 0.83 |
| Rapid City, SD | $17.26 | $35,910 | $30,050 | $44,430 | 390 | 5.24 | 0.58 |
| West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $17.35 | $36,080 | $29,740 | $43,360 | 320 | 5.07 | 0.56 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $16.69 | $34,720 | $29,740 | $43,610 | 500 | 3.75 | 0.41 |
Neighbouring states
See the national page for Cooks, Restaurant (every state ranked) and the South Dakota wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS South Dakota estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.