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What does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System 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 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators earning $53,370 in South Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $60,647 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) | $43,890 | $49,875 | +$5,985 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $48,100 | $54,659 | +$6,559 |
| Median (P50) | $53,370 | $60,647 | +$7,277 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,230 | $70,715 | +$8,485 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $73,170 | $83,147 | +$9,977 |
A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Dakota earns $53,370 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 14% further — like earning $60,647 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 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
Adjusting $53,370 for South Dakota's cost of living yields $60,648 — 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 #25 of 50 states for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
South Dakota ranks #25 out of 50 states for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators take-home pay in South Dakota after taxes →
A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Dakota earns a median salary of $53,370 per year. After adjusting for South Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.0), the real purchasing power is $60,647 — 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 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in South Dakota: $53,370 x (100 / 88.0) = $60,647. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System 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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