What does a Chemical Technicians salary really buy you in South Dakota?
South Dakota is 12.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
South Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.0, meaning prices are 12.0% lower the national average. A Chemical Technicians earning $47,970 in South Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $54,511 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for South Dakota's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $37,640 | $42,772 | +$5,132 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $39,740 | $45,159 | +$5,419 |
| Median (P50) | $47,970 | $54,511 | +$6,541 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $50,830 | $57,761 | +$6,931 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $57,140 | $64,931 | +$7,791 |
A Chemical Technicians in South Dakota earns $47,970 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 14% further — like earning $54,511 in an average-cost state. This makes South Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Chemical Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
South Dakota ranks #33 out of 49 states for Chemical Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Chemical Technicians in South Dakota earns a median salary of $47,970 per year. After adjusting for South Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.0), the real purchasing power is $54,511 — a +13.6% difference.
South Dakota's cost of living is 12.0% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for South Dakota is 88.0 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Chemical Technicians in South Dakota: $47,970 x (100 / 88.0) = $54,511. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Chemical Technicians in South Dakota enjoys 13.6% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.