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Optometrist Salary in South Dakota: Is It a Good Career?

South Dakota · 2026 BLS salary data

an Optometrist pay in South Dakota

The median wage is $102,320/yr — 25% below the national median. Among U.S. states, South Dakotais one of the lowest-paying states (#50 of 51).

The numbers in South Dakota

Real BLS state-level figures for Optometrist.

Median salary
$102,320/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$94,350 – $133,200
National median
$136,570/yr
Employed in South Dakota
190

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in South Dakota

Salary alone can mislead — South Dakota costs 11% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
88.6
Nominal median
$102,320
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $115,485
State income tax
None

Because South Dakota costs 11% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #48 of 51 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #50 on raw salary.

South Dakota levies no state income tax, so more of that pay stays in your pocket than in high-tax states.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do optometrist professionals make in South Dakota?

The median annual wage is $102,320 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $94,350 and $133,200. That's 25% below the national median.

Is South Dakota a good state for optometrist?

By raw pay, South Dakota is one of the lowest-paying states (#50 of 51). Adjusted for cost of living (South Dakota costs 11% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $115,485. Because South Dakota costs 11% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #48 of 51 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #50 on raw salary. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are optometrist professionals in demand in South Dakota?

About 190 people work in this field in South Dakota (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +8.0% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Optometrist nationally — South Dakota pay is 25% below the national median. See the full an Optometrist career guide →

The verdict

Yes for the balance it offers — optometrists earn strong pay with good hours and growing demand, without the extreme training of physicians. The main caveats are optometry-school debt and a somewhat routine clinical scope.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Strong pay with predictable, family-friendly hours
  • Much-faster-than-average projected growth
  • Less training than an MD/DO path
  • Practice-ownership potential
  • Clean, low-stress clinical environment

Cons

  • Significant optometry-school debt (OD degree)
  • Somewhat routine, repetitive scope
  • Market saturation in some urban areas
  • Limited scope vs ophthalmologists
  • Retail-chain settings can pressure volume

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People wanting strong pay with good work-life balance
  • Those who like steady, low-stress clinical work
  • Aspiring practice owners

✗ Probably not if…

  • People wanting broad medical scope
  • Those unwilling to take on the OD-degree debt

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Optometrist is worth it — titles link to the original threads.