Accountant salary in the West South Dakota nonmetro area
The West South Dakota nonmetro area is the least expensive place in South Dakota to hire an accountant. The median is $76,590 a year1, 2.9% below the South Dakota statewide median of $78,880 and 8.5% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #260 of 521 areas. About 950 accountants work here, 16% of the South Dakota total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West South Dakota nonmetro area against South Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | $59,270 | $76,590 | $112,860 | |
| South Dakota | $61,190 | $78,880 | $115,470 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in the West South Dakota nonmetro area earns $62,680–$94,490. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $112,860, only 1.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $31,810 wide, between the figure for South Dakota ($30,950) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,270 | $4,939 | $28.50 | $76,477 |
| 25th percentile | $62,680 | $5,223 | $30.13 | $80,877 |
| Median | $76,590 | $6,382 | $36.82 | $98,826 |
| 75th percentile | $94,490 | $7,874 | $45.43 | $121,923 |
| 90th percentile | $112,860 | $9,405 | $54.26 | $145,626 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $13,910 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $17,900, or about $23,097 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the West South Dakota nonmetro area, and the South Dakota statewide median of $78,880 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West South Dakota nonmetro area
At the $76,590 median, a local hire costs about $98,826 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $22,236 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the West South Dakota nonmetro area
Of the 14 roles we track in the West South Dakota nonmetro area, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($80,370); recruiters come next at $62,590.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +4.9% | 80 | |
| Accountant | this role | 950 | |
| Recruiter | -18.3% | 140 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -18.4% | 50 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -19.6% | 160 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #3 of the 14 roles we track in the West South Dakota nonmetro area (-8.5%), between paralegals (-4.4%) and bookkeepers (-9.7%). The typical role here is at -17.1%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in the West South Dakota nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 17.0% of the jobs in these 14 roles in the West South Dakota nonmetro area, 13.5% across South Dakota and 9.9% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in South Dakota
Across the 4 areas of South Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $76,590 in the West South Dakota nonmetro area to $80,920 in Sioux Falls, a gap of $4,330 a year. All 2 areas in South Dakota with more accountants than the West South Dakota nonmetro area also pay more, among them Sioux Falls, SD-MN ($80,920) and the East South Dakota nonmetro area ($77,070).
| Area | Median | vs the West South Dakota nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | +5.7% | 2,370 | |
| Rapid City, SD | +3.5% | 840 | |
| East South Dakota (Nonmetro) | +0.6% | 1,470 | |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | this area | 950 |
the West South Dakota nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West South Dakota nonmetro area is #206 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside South Dakota, Bloomington and Mankato pay just above the West South Dakota nonmetro area and Harrisonburg and Bloomington just below. All four are within $80 a year of the median in the West South Dakota nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West South Dakota nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | +1.1% | 940 | jobs | |
| Mankato, MN | +0.1% | 400 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IN | +0.1% | 480 | pay | |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | this area | 950 | ||
| Harrisonburg, VA | -0.1% | 450 | pay | |
| Bloomington, IL | -0.1% | 750 | pay | |
| Lubbock, TX | -2.9% | 960 | jobs | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | -6.4% | 960 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in West South Dakota (Nonmetro)?
About $98,826 a year at the median, or $8,235 a month: $76,590 in pay plus about $22,236 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in the West South Dakota nonmetro area?
The median was $76,590 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $59,270, the 90th $112,860, and the middle half earned $62,680 to $94,490.
Is the West South Dakota nonmetro area the cheapest area in South Dakota for accountants?
Yes. Its median of $76,590 is the lowest of 4 areas in South Dakota. The East South Dakota nonmetro area is next at $77,070.
How many accountants work in the West South Dakota nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 950 in the May 2025 survey. That is 16% of the South Dakota total of 5,820. Only Sioux Falls and the East South Dakota nonmetro area have more in South Dakota.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in the West South Dakota nonmetro area?
Yes: $14,000 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,590 and $62,590.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.