Librarian salary in South Dakota
In South Dakota, a typical librarian earned $51,210 a year in May 2025 (median), with an average of $53,840. About 490 people work in this occupation there.
That is 25% below the national median of $68,270. Compared with all occupations in South Dakota (median $47,080), librarians earn 9% more. With a location quotient of 1.25, the occupation is more concentrated here than in the US as a whole.
Pay varies widely: the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,760, while the top 10% earned more than $77,500. Many librarians are self-employed, and BLS wage surveys cover employees only, so freelance income can differ.
Pay distribution
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,760 | $18.16 |
| 25th | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| Median | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| 75th | $60,600 | $29.13 |
| 90th | $77,500 | $37.26 |
Metro areas in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | $59,990 | 40 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $52,200 | 200 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $51,210 | 130 |
| West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $47,600 | 110 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Estimates exclude self-employed workers; "—" means the estimate was not released.