Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
South Dakota employs 4,160 Life, Physical & Social Science professionals across 26 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Life, Physical & Social Science industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Life, Physical & Social Science in South Dakota, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Life, Physical & Social Science industry in South Dakota, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $88,610 | $87,900 | 250 | $42/hr |
| 2 | Physicists | $83,050 | $108,270 | 30 | $39/hr |
| 3 | Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $80,890 | $83,870 | 140 | $38/hr |
| 4 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $80,130 | $88,560 | 120 | $38/hr |
| 5 | Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $78,900 | $89,140 | 130 | $37/hr |
| 6 | School Psychologists | $78,370 | $83,490 | 110 | $37/hr |
| 7 | Animal Scientists | $77,300 | $79,940 | 90 | $37/hr |
| 8 | Conservation Scientists | $76,400 | $76,060 | 360 | $36/hr |
| 9 | Soil and Plant Scientists | $73,590 | $79,240 | 480 | $35/hr |
| 10 | Food Scientists and Technologists | $71,330 | $87,850 | 90 | $34/hr |
| 11 | Urban and Regional Planners | $71,180 | $74,900 | 210 | $34/hr |
| 12 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $71,150 | $72,030 | 80 | $34/hr |
| 13 | Microbiologists | $70,530 | $75,990 | 80 | $33/hr |
| 14 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $68,230 | $72,470 | 240 | $32/hr |
| 15 | Chemists | $67,440 | $72,750 | 170 | $32/hr |
| 16 | Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $65,890 | $69,120 | 170 | $31/hr |
| 17 | Foresters | $64,460 | $65,670 | 120 | $30/hr |
| 18 | Anthropologists and Archeologists | $63,130 | $69,430 | 40 | $30/hr |
| 19 | Forest and Conservation Technicians | $54,770 | $60,160 | 350 | $26/hr |
| 20 | Forensic Science Technicians | $51,690 | $54,770 | 30 | $24/hr |
| 21 | Chemical Technicians | $49,030 | $49,750 | 90 | $23/hr |
| 22 | Food Science Technicians | $48,760 | $46,220 | 100 | $23/hr |
| 23 | Social Science Research Assistants | $44,820 | $41,910 | 40 | $21/hr |
| 24 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $44,180 | $42,530 | 60 | $21/hr |
| 25 | Agricultural Technicians | $41,420 | $44,030 | 350 | $19/hr |
| 26 | Biological Technicians | $41,300 | $46,460 | 230 | $19/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across South Dakota:
South Dakota has 26 Life, Physical & Social Science occupations with 4,160 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Life, Physical & Social Science occupation in South Dakota is Occupational Health and Safety Specialists with a median salary of $88,610/year.
The average median salary across 26 Life, Physical & Social Science occupations in South Dakota is $65,637/year.
Salaries in Life, Physical & Social Science in South Dakota range from $26,450 (entry-level) to $180,690 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Life, Physical & Social Science occupations use SOC prefix 19. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 19* in South Dakota. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources