How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in South Dakota in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in South Dakota earns about $44.55 per hour ($92,660 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that comes to roughly $7,722 a month and $1,782 a week. These figures cover the full range of practice settings across the state, from hospitals to outpatient clinics.

That pay sits 10% below the national figure of $102,760 for Physical Therapists, and South Dakota ranks 49th out of 51 states and territories on this measure. About 1,060 Physical Therapists work across the state, a modest workforce compared with many larger states. The gap generally tracks a lower cost of living in South Dakota compared with higher-cost coastal states.

Entry-level positions in South Dakota typically offer around $37.45 an hour ($77,890 a year) for Physical Therapists just starting out. Some new graduates land slightly higher, closer to $39.61 an hour ($82,380 a year), depending on the setting and location. Pay generally moves toward the typical rate of $44.55 an hour within the first few years of practice. Clinical experience and additional certifications tend to speed that progression.

Experienced Physical Therapists in the state often earn upwards of $49.82 an hour ($103,630 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $51.86 an hour ($107,870 a year). That leaves a spread of $29,980 between entry-level and top pay. Years of experience, practice setting, and city tend to separate the two ends of that range, with specialized outpatient or hospital roles often paying more than general clinics.

South Dakota pay for Physical Therapists rose from $71,690 in 2015 to $92,660 in 2025, a gain of $20,970 over the decade. That's a 29% increase in pay across ten years, according to the same government wage data. The rise wasn't perfectly steady; pay dipped slightly in 2021 and again in 2024 before climbing to its current level.

Nationally, Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same decade, so South Dakota's climb outpaced the national trend. For someone starting a career now, that means pay in the state has moved up steadily in recent years, though past growth is no guarantee of future gains. Local pay still trails the national figure overall, even after the faster decade-long rise.

Pay runs highest in Rapid City, where Physical Therapists typically earn $94,120 a year ($45.25 an hour), about 2% above the statewide figure. Sioux Falls, the state's other reported metro area, pays close behind at $91,470 a year ($43.98 an hour). Both figures cover each city's full metro area rather than just the city center.

Sioux Falls is also the state's lowest-paying reported city, though the gap between the two is modest: a spread of just $2,650. Sioux Falls carries the larger Physical Therapist workforce, with about 460 employed there compared with 190 in Rapid City. With only two metro areas reported, pay across South Dakota looks fairly uniform, and differences likely reflect local living costs more than anything else.

Among neighboring states, Minnesota pays the most at $102,010 a year (10% above South Dakota), followed by Wyoming at $100,400 (8% higher), Iowa at $97,560 (5% higher), and Nebraska at $97,090 (also 5% higher). Montana pays close to South Dakota at $91,450 (1% less), while North Dakota pays least at $85,330 (8% below). A physical therapy license earned in South Dakota can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary.

Physical Therapists in South Dakota typically earn $92,660 a year ($44.55 an hour) as of May 2025, after climbing 29% over the past decade. Pay runs modestly below the national figure but has grown faster than the national rate in recent years. Readers considering the field should check South Dakota's licensing board for specific requirements and review city-level pages for local figures in Rapid City and Sioux Falls.