Radiologist Pay

Radiologist Salary in South Dakota: $533,158 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across South Dakota's 11 metropolitan areas, the average median radiologist pay sits at $533,158/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1224. Because South Dakota sits at BEA RPP 92.8 (7% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $574,524 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sioux Falls ($669,020), Rapid City ($395,081), Watertown ($375,539).

Radiologist Salary in South Dakota - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
South Dakota radiologist salary overview (2026)
$533,158
Avg Median Salary
$256.32
Avg Hourly Rate
111
Metro Employed
11
Cities

In 2026, radiologists in South Dakota are projected to earn an average median salary of $533,159, which is significantly higher than the national median of $441,903 by 20.7%. The variance across cities is notable, with the highest-paying location being Sioux Falls, where radiologists can expect salaries around $702,471. Conversely, Huron offers the lowest at $378,188, indicating a salary gap of $324,283. This difference may be driven by factors such as the concentration of healthcare facilities, local demand for radiological services, and the cost of living in each city. The job market for radiologists in South Dakota is expected to maintain a healthy growth rate of 5.00% annually, supported by increasing healthcare needs. Work in this field generally requires compliance with state licensing requirements and adherence to scope of practice laws, which can vary by state. Additionally, with only 111 radiologists currently employed statewide, there is potential for job openings as demand continues to rise. Cities like Rapid City, Watertown, Yankton, and Spearfish also present attractive salary figures, such as $414,835 and $394,316, reflecting a steady demand for radiological expertise throughout the state.

South Dakota Radiologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$236,199
avg across 11 cities
Median
$533,158
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$609,034
avg across 11 cities

Overall salary range in South Dakota: $219,349 (lowest entry-level) to $702,471 (highest top earner)

South Dakota vs National Average

South Dakota
$533,158
National Median
$441,903

South Dakota radiologists earn 20.65% more than the national median (+$91,255/year difference).

South Dakota Radiologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing South Dakota radiologist salary percentiles: 10th percentile $236,199, 25th $396,888, Median $533,158, 75th $573,161, 90th $609,034. US national median is $441,903.$170.5K$341.1K$511.6K$682.1K$236.2K10thEntry Level$396.9K25thEarly Career$533.2KMedianMid Career$573.2K75thExperienced$609.0K90thTop EarnerUS Median $441.9K

Radiologist salaries in South Dakota range from $236,199 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $609,034 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $533,158. The South Dakota median is $91,255 above the US national median of $441,903. The average hourly rate is $256.32/hr. Approximately 111 radiologists are employed across 11 cities.

2021 BLS Actual

$417,743

2025 BLS Actual

$507,770

2026 Current Est.

$533,158

2021–2027 Growth

+34.0%

Salary Trajectory for Radiologists in South Dakota (20212027)

2021–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.00% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for radiologists in South Dakota. Baseline $417,743 in 2025, projected to $559,816 by 2027.$275.5K$358.4K$441.3K$524.3K$607.2K20212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$417.7K$438.6K$460.6K$322.9K$507.8K$533.2K$559.8K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2021$417,743Actual
2022$438,631Actual
2023$460,562Actual
2024$322,870Actual
2025$507,770Actual
2026(current)$533,158Estimated
2027$559,816Projected

Based on 5 years of BLS OEWS data for the South Dakota metropolitan area, the median radiologist salary grew 21.6% from $417,743 (2021) to $507,770 (2025). At a 5.00% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $559,816 by 2027 — a total increase of $142,073 (34.01%) from 2021.

Note: Historical values (20212025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the South Dakota metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.00% CAGR derived from 5-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in South Dakota

#1
Sioux Falls
50 employed · $337.72/hr
$702,471
+31.76% vs avg
#2
Rapid City
16 employed · $199.44/hr
$414,835
-22.19% vs avg
#3
Watertown
6 employed · $189.58/hr
$394,316
-26.04% vs avg
#4
Yankton
4 employed · $189.51/hr
$394,193
-26.06% vs avg
#5
Spearfish
5 employed · $189.04/hr
$393,206
-26.25% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in South Dakota

CityMedian Salary
Huron$378,188
Vermillion$378,774
Brookings$378,866
Pierre$385,281
Aberdeen$389,716

Best Value Cities for Radiologists in South Dakota

When adjusted for local cost of living, these South Dakota cities offer the most purchasing power for radiologists.

CityNominal SalaryCoL IndexAdjusted Salary
Sioux Falls$702,47190.631$775,089
Rapid City$414,83592.8$447,020
Watertown$394,31692.8$424,909
Yankton$394,19392.8$424,777
Spearfish$393,20692.8$423,713

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in South Dakota

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$236,199
Mid Career (3-7 years)$533,158
Experienced (7+ years)$609,034

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across South Dakota metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 11 Cities in South Dakota

#CityMedian Salary
1Sioux Falls$702,471
2Rapid City$414,835
3Watertown$394,316
4Yankton$394,193
5Spearfish$393,206
6Mitchell$390,369
7Aberdeen$389,716
8Pierre$385,281
9Brookings$378,866
10Vermillion$378,774
11Huron$378,188

More South Dakota Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore radiologist hourly pay in South Dakota cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new radiologists.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced radiologists.

Explore More Radiologist Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do radiologists make in South Dakota in 2026?

The average median radiologist salary in South Dakota is $533,158/year across 11 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $378,188 in Huron to $702,471 in Sioux Falls. This makes South Dakota one of the higher-paying states, at 20.65% above the national median of $441,903. The state employs approximately 111 radiologists.

What is the highest paying city for radiologists in South Dakota?

Sioux Falls offers the highest radiologist salary in South Dakota at $702,471/year ($337.72/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sioux Falls ($702,471), Rapid City ($414,835), Watertown ($394,316). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for radiology services, and competition among employers for licensed radiologists.

How does South Dakota radiologist pay compare to the national average?

South Dakota's average radiologist salary of $533,158 is 20.65% above the national median of $441,903 in 2026. The state employs approximately 111 radiologists across 11 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level radiologist salary in South Dakota?

Entry-level radiologists (10th percentile) in South Dakota earn approximately $236,199/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $219,349 in lower-paying areas to $245,301 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many radiologists are employed in South Dakota?

South Dakota employs approximately 111 radiologists across 11 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the radiology field expands and the population ages.

Which South Dakota city offers the best value for radiologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Sioux Falls offers the highest purchasing power for radiologists in South Dakota, with an adjusted salary of $775,089 (nominal: $702,471, CoL index: 90.631). This means your dollar goes 10% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.
MC

Written by Dr. Maria Chen, MD

Career Analyst

Dr. Chen has 10 years of experience in diagnostic radiology. She specializes in imaging techniques for oncology. She works at a regional medical center.

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Rajesh Patel, MDData verified by Dr. Lisa Gonzalez, MD

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.00% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 radiologist compensation across South Dakota. State averages are employment-weighted across 11 metro areas — larger metro areas with more radiologistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.00%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for radiologists (SOC 29-1224).

Compiled and verified by Dr. Maria Chen, MD, a licensed radiologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

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