What does a Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists 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 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists earning $62,200 in South Dakota has the equivalent purchasing power of $70,681 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) | $51,810 | $58,875 | +$7,065 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $55,270 | $62,806 | +$7,536 |
| Median (P50) | $62,200 | $70,681 | +$8,481 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $72,750 | $82,670 | +$9,920 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $81,080 | $92,136 | +$11,056 |
A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in South Dakota earns $62,200 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 14% further — like earning $70,681 in an average-cost state. This makes South Dakota one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
South Dakota ranks #30 out of 48 states for Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in South Dakota earns a median salary of $62,200 per year. After adjusting for South Dakota's cost of living (RPP=88.0), the real purchasing power is $70,681 — 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 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists in South Dakota: $62,200 x (100 / 88.0) = $70,681. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists 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.