The median math teacher salary in South Dakota is $51,050 for high school teachers and $50,980 for middle school teachers, as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS counts teachers of all subjects, including math. Rapid City pays the most of the metro areas centered in South Dakota.
If you’re deciding where to teach in South Dakota, plan around the statewide median first, then your metro area. South Dakota’s medians are the third-lowest of the 50 states and DC at both grade levels, but Rapid City pays $8,490 more than the statewide figure for high school teachers. Here’s what each grade level, metro area and neighboring state pays.
South Dakota Math Teacher Salary by Grade Level
BLS has no separate category for math teachers. It reports pay for high school and middle school teachers across all subjects, so the math teacher salary in South Dakota is the same scale every other teacher in the building is paid on. As of May 2025, South Dakota employed 3,360 high school teachers and 2,130 middle school teachers.
| Grade Level | Employment | Median Annual Wage | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 3,360 | $51,050 | $59,500 | $62,040 |
| Middle School Teachers | 2,130 | $50,980 | $58,320 | $60,790 |
The two grade levels pay almost the same at the median: $70 apart. The range above the median is narrow too. A high school teacher at the 90th percentile earned $62,040, which is $10,000 below the national median for high school teachers.
Nationally, high school teachers earned a median of $72,040 as of May 2025 and middle school teachers earned $64,370, according to the BLS. That puts South Dakota $20,990 below the national median at the high school level and $13,390 below it at the middle school level. For state-by-state figures, see what math teachers earn nationally.
Math Teacher Pay by City in South Dakota
BLS reports teacher pay for 3 metro areas that include part of South Dakota. Two of them cross state lines, so they’re listed last.
| Metro Area (High School) | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 390 | $59,540 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 920 | $51,630 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 460 | $60,510 |
| Metro Area (Middle School) | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 330 | $60,020 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 720 | $50,280 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 290 | $57,900 |
Rapid City is the best-paying metro area entirely inside South Dakota. Its high school teachers earned a median of $59,540, and its middle school teachers earned $60,020, slightly more than high school. Both figures run about $8,500 to $9,000 above the statewide medians.
Sioux Falls employs the most teachers in the state, but its pay sits close to the statewide median: $51,630 for high school and $50,280 for middle school. The Sioux Falls BLS area includes part of Minnesota. The Sioux City area is centered on Sioux City, Iowa, and only partly in South Dakota, so its figures blend Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota districts.
Pierre, Aberdeen, Brookings and Watertown aren’t part of a BLS metro area. If you’ll teach there, use the statewide figures above.
How South Dakota Compares With Neighboring States
South Dakota borders six states. The table covers all six, and South Dakota has the lowest median at both grade levels.
| State | High School Median | Middle School Median |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $76,460 | $62,640 |
| Nebraska | $63,450 | $62,510 |
| Wyoming | $62,690 | $62,480 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 | $60,100 |
| Iowa | $61,200 | $60,450 |
| Montana | $60,990 | $61,550 |
| South Dakota | $51,050 | $50,980 |
The widest gap is with Minnesota, where high school teachers earned a median of $76,460, $25,410 more than in South Dakota. If you live near the eastern border, compare Minnesota math teacher salaries before you apply, and check what certification transfer would involve.
To the north and west, the gap is smaller but still close to $10,000. High school teachers earned a median of $61,210 in North Dakota and $60,990 in Montana. See North Dakota math teacher pay and what Montana math teachers earn for their metro areas.
Job Outlook for Math Teachers in South Dakota
South Dakota’s outlook is better than the national picture. Projections Central estimates a 5.1% increase in employment for high school teachers in South Dakota between 2024 and 2034, from 3,420 to 3,600 jobs, with an average of 240 openings per year. For middle school teachers it projects a 5% increase, from 2,280 to 2,390 jobs, with about 170 openings per year. See the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation projections for the state tables.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects little or no change from 2025 to 2035. High school teacher employment is projected to go from 1,087,500 to 1,085,000, and middle school teacher employment from 630,100 to 627,400. Even so, BLS expects about 63,500 high school and 38,800 middle school openings a year, mostly from teachers who retire or leave the profession.
Your actual starting pay comes from the hiring district’s salary schedule, not from these medians. Ask the district’s human resources office for its current schedule before you accept an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do math teachers make in South Dakota?
High school teachers in South Dakota earned a median annual salary of $51,050 as of May 2025, and middle school teachers earned $50,980, according to the BLS. These figures cover teachers of all subjects, including math.
Do high school math teachers earn more than middle school math teachers in South Dakota?
Barely. The statewide medians are $70 apart. In Rapid City, middle school teachers earned a slightly higher median ($60,020) than high school teachers ($59,540) as of May 2025.
Which South Dakota city pays math teachers the most?
Rapid City has the highest median of the metro areas inside South Dakota: $59,540 for high school teachers and $60,020 for middle school teachers as of May 2025. Sioux Falls, the largest metro area, pays close to the statewide median.
How does South Dakota math teacher pay compare with neighboring states?
South Dakota pays less than all six of its neighbors at both grade levels. Minnesota is highest, with a high school median of $76,460 as of May 2025. The other five neighbors pay between $60,990 and $63,450 at the high school level.
Are math teaching jobs growing in South Dakota?
Yes, modestly. Projections Central estimates about 5% employment growth for both high school and middle school teachers in South Dakota between 2024 and 2034, with about 240 high school and 170 middle school openings a year.
- Statewide pay: South Dakota high school teachers earned a median of $51,050 and middle school teachers $50,980 as of May 2025, according to the BLS.
- Top metro centered in South Dakota: Rapid City pays about $8,500 to $9,000 more than the statewide median at both grade levels.
- Regional gap: All six bordering states pay more, led by Minnesota at a $76,460 high school median.
- Job outlook: Projections Central estimates about 5% growth in South Dakota teaching jobs from 2024 to 2034, while the national outlook is flat.
- Your offer: District salary schedules set your actual pay, so ask the hiring district for its current schedule.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Middle School Teachers and High School Teachers, which include teachers of all subjects. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026.
National job outlook figures (2025-2035) are from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
If you’re planning to teach math in South Dakota, compare programs on whether they lead to South Dakota certification and how they arrange student teaching near you. Several of the schools listed here offer online math education programs that fit around a working schedule.