2026 Salary — South Dakota
Updated April 29, 2026
Data Scientist Salary in South Dakota: $100K Median
Data Scientists in South Dakota earn between $63K and $171K per year.
That's -7% below the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Data Scientist salary in South Dakota is $100,459 per year — -7% below the US national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $63,035 (entry, 25th percentile) to $171,204 (90th percentile). South Dakota's cost-of-living index is 93. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Median
$100,459
+520.0% YoY
Entry
$79,050
Experienced
$153,450
Top 10%
$171,204
About Data Scientists in South Dakota
Data scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and inform business decisions. They combine statistics, programming, and domain expertise.
Hot 2026 Skills
LLMsPyTorchMLOpsdbtSnowflakeGenAI
ATS Keywords
PythonSQLTensorFlowPyTorchmachine learningstatisticsA/B testingdata visualizationpandasscikit-learn
How to Negotiate Your Data Scientist Salary in South Dakota
Walk-away anchor: $87,356.
Leverage Points
- Reference levels.fyi total compensation data for your level (L4/L5/etc.) at comparable companies
- Quantify recent shipped impact: latency reduced, revenue driven, on-call incidents resolved
- Hold a competing offer (or credible interview pipeline) before the salary conversation
- Highlight in-demand skill premiums: LLMs, Kubernetes, Rust, distributed systems
Negotiate Beyond Base
Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech)RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffsRemote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipendAnnual learning budget and conference allowanceSabbatical eligibility after 4-5 years
Data Scientist Salary FAQ — South Dakota
What is the average Data Scientist salary in South Dakota?
The average Data Scientist salary in South Dakota is $100,459 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $63,035 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $171,204 (90th percentile). South Dakota has no state income tax — increasing take-home meaningfully.
How does Data Scientist pay in South Dakota compare to the US average?
Data Scientists in South Dakota earn approximately 7% less than the US national median ($108,020 nationally vs $100,459 in South Dakota). South Dakota's cost-of-living index of 93 amplifies the real purchasing power.
Did Data Scientist salaries in South Dakota increase in 2026?
Yes — Data Scientist salaries in South Dakota grew approximately 520.0% year-over-year, from $16,203 in 2025 to $100,459 in 2026. This reflects the broader Technology sector's wage growth, driven by LLMs and PyTorch demand.
Which South Dakota cities pay Data Scientists the most?
South Dakota has no major metros in our database — fallback to the closest tracked city for detailed breakdowns.
What's the job outlook for Data Scientists in South Dakota?
Data scientist employment is projected to grow 36% through 2034 — one of the fastest-growing occupations. AI/ML adoption across industries is driving unprecedented demand. South Dakota's top industries include Finance (Credit Cards), Agriculture, Tourism, and the state's unemployment rate is 2.5% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
Does South Dakota have state income tax?
No, South Dakota has no state income tax. This significantly boosts take-home pay vs comparable salaries in tax states like California or New York. At $100,459, you keep all of it (after federal + FICA).
What skills are most in demand for Data Scientists in 2026?
Hottest 2026 skills: LLMs, PyTorch, MLOps, dbt, Snowflake, GenAI. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with South Dakota employers.
How can I increase my Data Scientist salary in South Dakota?
Based on levels.fyi data and what I'm seeing from comparable offers, total compensation for this level is closer to $X base plus equity. Can we close the gap on base or front-load the RSU grant? Beyond base, negotiate: Sign-on bonus ($25K-$100K is standard at Big Tech), RSU refreshers and accelerated vesting cliffs, Remote/hybrid flexibility and home-office stipend, Annual learning budget and conference allowance. Walk-away anchor for South Dakota: $87,356.
Methodology
South Dakota Data Scientist salary is the BLS national median ($108,020) adjusted by South Dakota's state multiplier (0.93×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Data Scientist Salary in Other States
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