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

South Dakota · 2026 BLS salary data

a Pharmacist pay in South Dakota

The median wage is $146,790/yr — 4% above the national median. Among U.S. states, South Dakotaranks #13 of 51 states by median pay.

The numbers in South Dakota

Real BLS state-level figures for Pharmacist.

Median salary
$146,790/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$131,950 – $155,260
National median
$140,910/yr
Employed in South Dakota
1,280

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
$146,790
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $165,677
State income tax
None

Because South Dakota costs 11% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #1 of 51 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #13 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 pharmacist professionals make in South Dakota?

The median annual wage is $146,790 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $131,950 and $155,260. That's 4% above the national median.

Is South Dakota a good state for pharmacist?

By raw pay, South Dakota ranks #13 of 51 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (South Dakota costs 11% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $165,677. Because South Dakota costs 11% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #1 of 51 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #13 on raw salary. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are pharmacist professionals in demand in South Dakota?

About 1,280 people work in this field in South Dakota (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Pharmacist nationally — South Dakota pay is 4% above the national median. See the full a Pharmacist career guide →

The verdict

Mixed — pharmacists earn high pay, but the PharmD costs a lot, retail conditions have deteriorated, and job growth is only average with saturation in many areas. Worth it if you land hospital/clinical roles; riskier if retail is your only option.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • High pay
  • Trusted, stable health-care role
  • Clinical and hospital paths beyond retail
  • Broad demand across settings
  • Respected expertise in medications

Cons

  • High PharmD debt for only-average growth
  • Retail conditions and workloads have worsened
  • Market saturation in many regions
  • Repetitive tasks in high-volume retail
  • Limited advancement without specialization

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People targeting hospital/clinical pharmacy
  • Those who can manage PharmD debt
  • Anyone drawn to medication expertise

✗ Probably not if…

  • People whose only option is saturated retail
  • Those expecting fast growth for the debt

What people are actually asking

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