Nurse pay in South Dakota
Nurses in South Dakota are being offered a median $78,000 a year right now across 678 live job postings that state pay — ranking #51 of 51 states. Updated October 26, 2026.
- 10th percentile
- $49k
- 25th percentile
- $64k
- 75th percentile
- $84k
- 90th percentile
- $104k
Where does your pay sit in South Dakota?
Checked against 678 live postings that state pay. Your number stays in your browser.
- 10th percentile
- $49k
- 25th percentile
- $64k
- 75th percentile
- $84k
- 90th percentile
- $104k
Enter your pay to see your percentile.
Posted offers on live listings — not take-home pay or a promise of what any one nurse will earn.
South Dakota market overview
- 25th percentile
- $63,895
- Median
- $78,000
- 75th percentile
- $84,240
- 90th percentile
- $104,000
- Median hourly (511 postings)
- $30/hr
- Sign-on bonus, median (396 postings)
- $10,000
- Sign-on bonus, highest posted
- $100,000
- Live postings stating pay
- 678
Annual figures are posted offers (midpoint of stated ranges) on live listings, updated October 26, 2026.
What each specialty is offered in South Dakota
| Specialty | Median | 90th percentile | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $83k | $84k | 26 |
| ICU | $121k | $150k | 10 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $53k | $54k | 10 |
| Pediatric | $74k | $122k | 10 |
| Medical-Surgical | $118k | $137k | 9 |
| Nursing Assistant | $49k | $51k | 9 |
| Acute Care | $126k | $150k | 6 |
| Home Health | $79k | $86k | 6 |
| Telemetry | $130k | $145k | 6 |
| Cardiology | $83k | $122k | 5 |
| Dialysis | $83k | $131k | 5 |
Highest-offering employers in South Dakota right now
- #1$146k
Solutions by Sanford
median across 6 priced postings
- #2$145k
Vibra Travels LLC
median across 5 priced postings
- #3$131k
TNAA Healthcare
median across 6 priced postings
- #4$128k
American Traveler
median across 12 priced postings
- #5$123k
Indian Health Service
median across 7 priced postings
What are you being paid?
30 seconds, no name. After a quick review, your report joins the nurse-reported pay, always shown apart from what employers post, so nurses can compare the two.
What to do with this
- See the rolesSee open nursing roles in South DakotaEvery posting behind these numbers is a live job you can open and apply to.
- Offer in hand?Review an offerTurn it into a full-year number, see what it's worth where you'd live, and compare offers side by side.
- 3-minute PULSEFind the work that brings out your bestPay is one axis. Your pace, decision style, connection, scope, and energy rhythm shape the rest.
- CommunityAsk nurses what they really take homeDifferentials, ratios, and the offer nobody posts. Bring your number and compare notes.
Want the craft behind the numbers — differentials, negotiating, travel packages? Read the pay & salary guides.
Questions nurses ask
- How much do nurses make in South Dakota?
- Across 678 live job postings in South Dakota that state pay, the median posted offer is $78,000 a year (about $30/hr). The middle half of postings runs $63,895–$84,240, and the top 10% start at $104,000.
- How does South Dakota nurse pay compare nationally?
- South Dakota's posted median of $78,000 is 18% below the national median ($95,680), ranking #51 of 51 states on the Pay Index right now.
- Do South Dakota nursing jobs offer sign-on bonuses?
- 396 live postings in South Dakota advertise a sign-on bonus right now, with a median of $10,000 and offers up to $100,000.