Pay by state / South Dakota
SD · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in South Dakota
South Dakota's 630 dental hygienists earned a mean of $89,180 in May 2025, 10% below the US mean and number 33 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $164,030 (-14% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for South Dakota. Dental assistants earned $50,170.
- 1Dental hygienists $89,180
- 2General dentists $164,030
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $50,170
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | SD mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 390 | 0.844 | $164,030 | $191,350 | -14% |
| Dental hygienists | 630 | 1.382 | $89,180 | $98,990 | -10% |
| Dental assistants | 1,290 | 2.829 | $50,170 | $50,200 | 0% |
How South Dakota ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for South Dakota.
- General dentists: number 40 of 47 published states for mean pay ($164,030, median $158,140), with 0.844 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 33 of 50 published states for mean pay ($89,180, median $92,210), with 1.382 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 22 of 50 published states for mean pay ($50,170, median $47,900), with 2.829 per 1,000 jobs.
South Dakota and the West North Central division
Among the 6 West North Central jurisdictions with published figures, South Dakota ranks 3 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $92,210 and half less. The Census Bureau groups these states as a division, which makes a fairer comparison than the national figure when living costs differ by region. Not in the May 2025 BLS state file: KS.
| West North Central | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $86,640 | $198,470 | $50,450 |
| Minnesota | $103,830 | $211,780 | $64,740 |
| Missouri | $88,430 | $241,580 | $46,790 |
| Nebraska | $88,990 | $186,420 | $46,430 |
| North Dakota | $89,750 | $222,340 | $56,450 |
| South Dakota | $89,180 | $164,030 | $50,170 |
Staffing in South Dakota
There are 1.6 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in South Dakota, close to the national ratio of about 1.8. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $139,350 a year in their salaries alone, before benefits. Owners of practices are not counted in these BLS figures, so dentist and orthodontist numbers understate how many work in South Dakota.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for South Dakota. Wages are one input to what practices charge, alongside rent, equipment and competition, so they explain only part of why quotes differ. Your quote is what matters: put it, your insurance's orthodontic benefit and your FSA or HSA plans into the calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files). “–” = not published by BLS. Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.