Lawyers Salary in South Dakota
In South Dakota, lawyers earn a median $102,040 a year, well below the national median of $159,670 (−36%); the state ranks 47th of 51 states by median. Lawyers earn 2.2 times the median across all occupations in South Dakota ($47,080). Among neighbouring states, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and Montana pay more (up to $155,140 in Minnesota) and Wyoming pays less (down to $100,130 in Wyoming). South Dakota employs 1,360 lawyers, 2.98 per 1,000 jobs, the 47th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.61 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 | $36.98 | $41.17 | $49.06 | $67.92 | $112.83 | $63.59 | 1,360 | 2.98 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $76,920 | $85,640 | $102,040 | $141,270 | $234,690 | $132,270 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.67 | $49.51 | $76.76 | $106.43 | $169.04 | $89.35 | 754,500 | – | – |
| Annual | $78,360 | $102,990 | $159,670 | $221,370 | $351,600 | $185,840 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 47th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 47th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.61
- Jobs per 1,000
- 2.98
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 lawyers, 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 City, IA-NE-SD | $58.07 | $120,790 | $69,960 | $276,320 | 150 | 2.03 | 0.42 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $53.97 | $112,260 | $78,770 | $288,720 | 570 | 3.19 | 0.66 |
| Rapid City, SD | $47.80 | $99,430 | $77,790 | $209,990 | 260 | 3.47 | 0.71 |
| West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $48.29 | $100,430 | $68,940 | $180,020 | 250 | 4.05 | 0.84 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | * | * | * | * | 270 | 2.01 | 0.41 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $49.06 | $102,040 | 1,360 | 0.61 |
| Iowa | $59.40 | $123,550 | 3,550 | 0.47 |
| Minnesota | $74.59 | $155,140 | 12,380 | 0.86 |
| Montana | $49.87 | $103,720 | 2,380 | 0.96 |
| North Dakota | $51.39 | $106,880 | 1,050 | 0.50 |
| Nebraska | $52.49 | $109,170 | 3,490 | 0.70 |
| Wyoming | $48.14 | $100,130 | 900 | 0.66 |
See the national page for Lawyers (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.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- 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.