Cost of hiring in the East South Dakota nonmetro area
BLS counts about 11,180 people in these 15 roles in the East South Dakota nonmetro area1. Project Coordinator has the highest median ($82,850 a year), Virtual Receptionist the lowest ($37,350), and Bookkeeper is the largest job, with about 3,300 people.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the East South Dakota nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +4.0% | 130 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.7% | 1,320 | |
| HR Assistant | -4.1% | 40 | |
| Accountant | -7.9% | 1,470 | |
| Paralegal | -8.1% | 100 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -10.5% | 1,180 | |
| Bookkeeper | -10.9% | 3,300 | |
| Office Manager | -12.3% | 370 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -12.3% | 1,870 | |
| Recruiter | -14.2% | 270 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -14.3% | 100 | |
| Project Coordinator | -19.0% | 340 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -19.1% | 110 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -19.4% | 330 | |
| Executive Assistant | -29.7% | 250 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $45,140 median for bookkeepers, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $58,245 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the East South Dakota nonmetro area against the US
The East South Dakota nonmetro area pays above the US median for only one of the 15 roles, e-commerce order specialists (+4.0%), and below it for 14, furthest for executive assistants (-29.7%). The middle gap across all 15 is -12.3%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for e-commerce order specialists, #51 of 287 areas by median pay; its lowest is for executive assistants, #462 of 509.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the East South Dakota nonmetro area has more bookkeepers (29.5% of these jobs here, against 9.3% nationally) and e-commerce order specialists (1.2% against 0.5%), and fewer sales development representatives (0.9% against 8.5%) and paralegals (0.9% against 2.7%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ is nearest, at -12.3%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | -12.1% | 17 | 6,400 |
| Wichita, KS | -12.2% | 17 | 32,410 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | -12.2% | 15 | 2,700 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -12.3% | 15 | 6,210 |
| East South Dakota (Nonmetro) | -12.3% (this area) | 15 | 11,180 |
| Fayetteville, NC | -12.4% | 17 | 11,520 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, sales development representatives in the East South Dakota nonmetro area span $37,020–$108,420, the widest band (2.9×); e-commerce order specialists the narrowest, $41,170–$52,930. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 14 of 15 roles, marketing specialists most ($43,390–$155,480 across the US). Budget from the median for sales development representatives, recruiters, marketing specialists and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($66,370 against a $59,990 median for sales development representatives).
the East South Dakota nonmetro area against South Dakota
Against South Dakota as a whole, the East South Dakota nonmetro area pays more only for HR assistants (+7.5%), and less for 9, most of all recruiters (-3.6%). It has the highest median in South Dakota for HR assistants, and the lowest for bookkeepers and virtual receptionists.
Other areas in South Dakota
By jobs in these roles, the East South Dakota nonmetro area is #2 of 4 areas in South Dakota. The table shows the other 3.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 17,770 | 16 |
| Rapid City, SD | 7,460 | 14 |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | 5,600 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the East South Dakota nonmetro area?
Of the 15 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $82,850 a year, about $106,903 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $37,350.
Is hiring in the East South Dakota nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
For 14 of the 15 roles, yes, most of all executive assistants (-29.7%). One pays more than the US median: e-commerce order specialists (+4.0%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.