2023 Salary Report for Social Workers in South Dakota

Salary Report for South Dakota Social Workers

South Dakota Rankings

Compare South Dakota to U.S.

South Dakota Social Workers earn an average of $44,770 which is 18% less than the national average salary of $54,880.

Type	South Dakota	U.S.	% Difference
Average Hourly Wage	$21.53	$26.39	-18.42%
Average Annual Salary	$44,770	$54,880	-18.42%

Salary Range by Education and Experience

In South Dakota, 50% of Social Workers earn between $38,390 and $48,970 a year, depending on factors such as level of education, experience, location and place of employment.

About 10% of Social Workers earn more than $60,510, a rate generally associated with highly educated and experienced Social Workers.

Approximately 10% of Social Workers earn under $30,910, a rate generally reserved for less experienced or entry level Social Workers.

Percent	Experience	Employed	Annual Salary
10%	Less than a Year	170	Under $30,910
15%	2 – 4 years	255	$30,910 – $38,390
25%	5 – 9 years	425	$38,390 – $43,800
25%	10 – 14 years	425	$43,800 – $48,970
15%	15 – 20 years	255	$43,800 – $60,510
10%	20+ years	170	Above $60,510

Adjusted for Cost-of-Living

After being adjusted for cost-of-living, Social Workers in South Dakota psychologists earn about $48,918 per year which is less than the average U.S. psychologist of $54,880.

Cost-of-living in South Dakota is 8% less than the national average, which means South Dakota residents have an overall less cost for food, housing, utilities and transportation compared to other states.

More cost-of-living reports for U.S. States.

Salary Compared to Related Professions

With an average annual salary of $44,770, South Dakota Social Workers tend to earn less than Forensic Psychologists ($91,660), Clinical and Counseling Psychologists ($91,540), Psychology Teachers ($72,830), School Psychologists ($68,950), Health Care Social Workers ($47,260), Substance Abuse Counselors ($45,410), and Marriage and Family Therapists ($45,020).

Title	Annual Salary
Forensic Psychologists	$91,660
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$91,540
Psychology Teachers	$72,830
School Psychologists	$68,950
Health Care Social Workers	$47,260
Substance Abuse Counselors	$45,410
Marriage and Family Therapists	$45,020
Social Workers	$44,770

Projected Demand for Psychologists in 2030

The U.S. Department of Labor projects that in South Dakota the three professions needing the most new psychologists by 2030 are Social Workers (1,880), Substance Abuse Counselors (1,600) and Health Care Social Workers (640).

The three professions in South Dakota needing highest percentage new psychologists by 2030 are Psychology Teachers (14.3%), Substance Abuse Counselors (13.5%) and Health Care Social Workers (10.3%).

Title	2020	2030	Change	Yearly Openings
Social Workers	1,770	1,880	6.2%	180
Substance Abuse Counselors	1,410	1,600	13.5%	160
Health Care Social Workers	580	640	10.3%	60
Marriage and Family Therapists	140	150	7.1%	10
Forensic Psychologists	120	130	8.3%	10
Psychology Teachers	70	80	14.3%	10

Salaries Ranked by South Dakota Cities

The average salary for Social Workers in South Dakota is $44,770. The top cities that pay Social Workers the most are Sioux Falls ($45,500), East South Dakota Nonmetropolitan Area ($45,320) and Rapid City ($44,420).

When adjusted for cost-of-living, the cities that pay Social Workers the highest average annual salary are East South Dakota Nonmetropolitan Area ($50,614), West South Dakota Nonmetropolitan Area ($48,615) and Sioux Falls ($48,358).

The following table shows the average yearly salary range for Social Workers in each city, and the average yearly salary after being adjusted for cost-of-living in that state.

The difference column shows how much more or less purchasing power a Social Workers salary will have in that area.

Area	Average Salary	COL Adjusted	Difference
Sioux Falls	$45,500	$48,358	$2,858
East South Dakota Nonmetropolitan Area	$45,320	$50,614	$5,294
Rapid City	$44,420	$47,908	$3,488
West South Dakota Nonmetropolitan Area	$43,530	$48,615	$5,085

Salary FAQ for South Dakota Social Workers

City and Rural Summaries

Official Data Sources for Social Workers: Salary Data | Projected Employment | Cost of Living Data