How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in South Dakota in 2026?
Typical pay for Rad Techs in South Dakota, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical Rad Tech in South Dakota earns about $31.36 per hour ($65,240 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Based on that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $5,437 a month and $1,255 a week. Those figures cover the typical worker in the state, not entry-level or senior pay.
That pay runs 19% below the national typical figure of $80,110 a year, and South Dakota ranks 46th out of 51 states, including D.C., for Rad Tech pay. About 980 Rad Techs work across the state, a modest workforce compared with larger states nearby.
Rad Tech pay in South Dakota at a glance
- Rad Techs in South Dakota typically earn $31.36 an hour, or about $65,240 a year, per May 2025 wage data.
- That's 19% below the national typical pay of $80,110, ranking South Dakota 46th out of 51 states, including D.C.
- Rapid City pays the most in the state, with Rad Techs typically earning $67,210 a year.
- Entry-level positions typically start around $48,730 a year, while the top 10% of earners make over $89,710.
- South Dakota pay climbed $13,730 since 2019, even as the national typical pay rose 32% over the same decade.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Rad Tech make in South Dakota?
Rad Tech pay by career stage in South Dakota
| Career stage | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $48,730$23.43 an hour | $55,980$26.91 an hour |
| First years | $61,490$29.56 an hour | $64,810$31.16 an hour |
| Typical Rad Tech | $65,240$31.36 an hour | $80,110$38.52 an hour |
| Experienced | $79,770$38.35 an hour | $98,750$47.47 an hour |
| Top 10% | $89,710$43.13 an hour | $118,660$57.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
Rad Tech pay by experience level in South Dakota
Entry-level positions in South Dakota typically offer around $23.43 an hour, or about $48,730 a year, according to the same wage data. Pay in the next tier up moves to around $29.56 an hour ($61,490 a year) as techs gain a few years of experience. Most workers reach the typical pay of $65,240 within several years on the job.
Experienced Rad Techs in South Dakota often earn upwards of $38.35 an hour ($79,770 a year), and the top 10% make over $89,710 a year ($43.13 an hour). That leaves a spread of $40,980 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years on the job, and which city a tech works in all factor into where someone lands in that range.
Rad Tech pay growth in South Dakota
Typical (median) annual wage for Rad Techs in South Dakota · BLS OES May estimates, 2019 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2019, the typical Rad Tech in South Dakota earned $51,510 a year. By 2025, that figure had climbed to $65,240, a gain of $13,730 over six years. Pay rose in nearly every one of those years, with a small dip between 2024 and 2025.
Nationally, Rad Tech pay rose 32% over the same decade, a faster pace than South Dakota's dollar gain reflects. Pay for Rad Techs in the state has moved up over time, though that offers no guarantee about future years. Someone starting out today enters a field where typical pay has trended higher than it was six years ago.
Rad Tech salary by city in South Dakota
Pay runs highest in Rapid City, where Rad Techs typically earn $67,210 a year ($32.31 an hour), about 3% above the statewide figure. Sioux Falls follows closely, with typical pay of $65,030 a year ($31.26 an hour). These two metro areas make up the state's reported city-level data.
Sioux Falls pays the least of the two, though the gap between the highest and lowest city is just $2,180 a year. Sioux Falls also holds the largest Rad Tech workforce in the state, with 450 employed there compared with 130 in Rapid City. Figures cover each city's full metro area, and the modest spread often tracks differences in local living costs.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs South Dakota | Rad Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid City | $67,210 | $32.31 | +3% | 130 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls | $65,030 | $31.26 | 0% | 450 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota typical pay $65,240
How South Dakota compares with nearby states
South Dakota pays less than every state it borders. Minnesota offers the biggest gap, with typical pay of $83,400 a year, 28% above South Dakota. Wyoming ($77,860) and Montana ($77,070) also pay well above South Dakota, while North Dakota ($67,790) and Iowa ($65,930) come closest, running only 4% and 1% higher. Licensure earned in South Dakota can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can simplify a move across the border.
| State | Typical pay | Vs South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $65,240 | baseline |
| Minnesota | $83,400 | +28% |
| Wyoming | $77,860 | +19% |
| Montana | $77,070 | +18% |
| Nebraska | $72,860 | +12% |
| North Dakota | $67,790 | +4% |
| Iowa | $65,930 | +1% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical Rad Tech pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is South Dakota a good state for Rad Techs?
Rad Techs in South Dakota earn less than in most states: typical pay is $65,240 a year, 19% below the national figure, ranking 46th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in South Dakota, about 2.1 are Rad Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. That makes the local economy more reliant on Rad Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year. Pay trails the national figure here, but demand does not: Rad Techs make up a larger share of South Dakota's workforce than in most states.
Summary
Rad Techs in South Dakota typically earn $65,240 a year ($31.36 an hour), up $13,730 since 2019, though pay still runs below the national figure. Anyone weighing the field can check South Dakota's licensing and registry requirements through the state's radiologic technology board, and compare local pay using the Rapid City and Sioux Falls city pages.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Rad Tech make in South Dakota?
- A typical Rad Tech in South Dakota earns about $31.36 an hour, or $65,240 a year, according to May 2025 wage data. That's below the national typical pay of $80,110 a year.
- How much does a Rad Tech make an hour in South Dakota?
- Typical hourly pay for a Rad Tech in South Dakota is $31.36, according to May 2025 wage data. Entry-level pay starts closer to $23.43 an hour, while experienced techs often earn $38.35 or more.
- What is the starting pay for a Rad Tech in South Dakota?
- Entry-level positions in South Dakota typically offer around $23.43 an hour, or about $48,730 a year. Pay tends to rise toward the state's typical figure of $65,240 as techs gain experience.
- Which city in South Dakota pays Rad Techs the most?
- Rapid City pays the most, with typical Rad Tech pay of $67,210 a year, about 3% above the statewide figure. Sioux Falls follows at $65,030 a year and has the larger workforce of the two, at 450 Rad Techs.
- Is Rad Tech pay in South Dakota higher than the national rate?
- No. South Dakota's typical Rad Tech pay of $65,240 a year runs 19% below the national figure of $80,110, ranking the state 46th out of 51 states, including D.C. Lower pay in the state often tracks a lower cost of living.