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What does a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary really buy you in South Dakota?
South Dakota is 12.0% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
South Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 88.0, meaning prices are 12.0% lower the national average. A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators earning $59,500 in South Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $67,613 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) | $47,260 | $53,704 | +$6,444 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $50,690 | $57,602 | +$6,912 |
| Median (P50) | $59,500 | $67,613 | +$8,113 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $63,460 | $72,113 | +$8,653 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $75,880 | $86,227 | +$10,347 |
A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in South Dakota earns $59,500 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 14% further — like earning $67,613 in an average-cost state. This makes South Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.
South Dakota's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 88.0 means a basket of goods and services costs about 12.0% less than the national average. For a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $59,500 for South Dakota's cost of living yields $67,614 — a 13.6% gain in real purchasing power. This magnitude usually reflects either a materially cheaper or materially pricier metro mix than the national average.
South Dakota sits at #20 of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
South Dakota ranks #20 out of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators take-home pay in South Dakota after taxes →
A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in South Dakota earns a median salary of $59,500 per year. After adjusting for South Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.0), the real purchasing power is $67,613 — 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 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in South Dakota: $59,500 x (100 / 88.0) = $67,613. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 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.
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