Dental Assistant salary in South Dakota
The verified BLS median dental assistant in South Dakota earns $47,900 ($23.03/hr). South Dakota is about the national median ($48,070).
Dental Assistant pay in South Dakota: the analysis
At a verified median of $47,900, dental assistants in South Dakota earn about the U.S. median. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports dental assistant pay, South Dakota ranks 26th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of dental assistants in this state earn around $38,190, while the top tenth earn $60,310 or more — a spread of about $22,120. That gap reflects experience, practice setting, and demand more than any single factor, so an individual offer can sit well above or below the midpoint.
The BLS counts roughly 1,290 dental assistants employed in South Dakota — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within South Dakota, a dental assistant earns about 3.3× less than a general dentist and about 1.9× less than a dental hygienist ($158,140, $92,210 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, dental assistant pay is highest in Sioux Falls at about $48,890 and lowest in Rapid City at about $47,850. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Dental Assistant pay distribution — South Dakota (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $38,190 | $18.36/hr |
| 25th percentilei | $47,060 | $22.63/hr |
| Median (50th)i | $47,900 | $23.03/hr |
| 75th percentilei | $57,890 | $27.83/hr |
| 90th percentilei | $60,310 | $29.00/hr |
| Mean (average)i | $50,170 | $24.12/hr |
Dental Assistant pay by metro in South Dakota
All 2 South Dakota metros where BLS publishes a dental assistant wage — highest first. State median: $47,900.
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the South Dakota median. Metros where BLS does not publish a dental assistant wage are not listed.
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How much does a dental assistant make in South Dakota?
The verified BLS OEWS median dental assistant in South Dakota earns about $47,900 ($23.03/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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