Cost of hiring in the West South Dakota nonmetro area
Bookkeeper is the largest of these 14 jobs in the West South Dakota nonmetro area, with about 1,540 people1. Medians run from $37,350 a year for customer support specialists to $80,370 for project coordinators.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in the West South Dakota nonmetro area
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Receptionist | -1.7% | 590 | |
| Paralegal | -4.4% | 90 | |
| Accountant | -8.5% | 950 | |
| Bookkeeper | -9.7% | 1,540 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -10.7% | 50 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -13.5% | 1,120 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -16.6% | 320 | |
| Recruiter | -17.6% | 140 | |
| Office Manager | -17.6% | 220 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -18.2% | 50 | |
| HR Assistant | -20.6% | 30 | |
| Project Coordinator | -21.5% | 80 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.8% | 160 | |
| Executive Assistant | -29.8% | 260 |
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 $45,760 median for bookkeepers, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $59,045 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
the West South Dakota nonmetro area against the US
The West South Dakota nonmetro area pays below the US median for all 14 roles. The gap is smallest for virtual receptionists (-1.7%) and paralegals (-4.4%) and largest for executive assistants (-29.8%). The middle gap across all 14 is -17.1%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for sales development representatives, #155 of 520 areas by median pay; its lowest is for HR assistants, #367 of 384.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, the West South Dakota nonmetro area has more bookkeepers (27.5% of these jobs here, against 9.3% nationally) and administrative assistants (20.0% against 11.6%), and fewer sales development representatives (0.9% against 8.5%) and project coordinators (1.4% against 7.3%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Auburn-Opelika, AL is nearest, at -17.2%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | -16.9% | 15 | 2,880 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | -16.9% | 17 | 12,750 |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | -17.1% (this area) | 14 | 5,600 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | -17.2% | 15 | 6,570 |
| Morristown, TN | -17.2% | 17 | 3,900 |
| Springfield, MO | -17.3% | 16 | 20,430 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in the West South Dakota nonmetro area span $41,590–$120,640, the widest band (2.9×); paralegals the narrowest, $52,290–$71,280. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 12 of 14 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for marketing specialists and recruiters: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($72,490 against a $61,560 median for marketing specialists).
the West South Dakota nonmetro area against South Dakota
Against South Dakota as a whole, the West South Dakota nonmetro area pays more for 2 of 14 roles, led by paralegals (+3.1%) and sales development representatives (+1.1%), and less for 11, most of all HR assistants (-11.1%). It has the highest median in South Dakota for paralegals, and the lowest for accountants, recruiters and marketing specialists and 5 more roles.
Other areas in South Dakota
By jobs in these roles, the West South Dakota nonmetro area is #4 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 |
| East South Dakota (Nonmetro) | 11,180 | 15 |
| Rapid City, SD | 7,460 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in the West South Dakota nonmetro area?
Of the 14 roles we track, Project Coordinator: a median of $80,370 a year, about $103,703 with benefits; the lowest is Customer Support Specialist, $37,350.
Is hiring in the West South Dakota nonmetro area cheaper than the US median?
Yes, for every role we track: all 14 medians are below the US figure, the furthest for executive assistants (-29.8%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.