What does a Software QA Engineer 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 Software QA Engineer earning $61,790 in South Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $70,215 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) | $45,930 | $52,193 | +$6,263 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $50,440 | $57,318 | +$6,878 |
| Median (P50) | $61,790 | $70,215 | +$8,425 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $74,380 | $84,522 | +$10,142 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $94,990 | $107,943 | +$12,953 |
A Software QA Engineer in South Dakota earns $61,790 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 14% further — like earning $70,215 in an average-cost state. This makes South Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Software QA Engineer salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
South Dakota ranks #46 out of 48 states for Software QA Engineer after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Software QA Engineer in South Dakota earns a median salary of $61,790 per year. After adjusting for South Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.0), the real purchasing power is $70,215 — 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 Software QA Engineer in South Dakota: $61,790 x (100 / 88.0) = $70,215. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Software QA Engineer 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.