Mechanical Engineer Salary in South Dakota: $98,500 Average

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Average base salary, South Dakota

$98,500 / year

≈ $8,200 per month · $47.36 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for South Dakota · median $91,500

25th percentile
$80,000Average
$98,50075th percentile
$110,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Mechanical Engineer salary by state

Alabama$113,000

Alaska$130,500

Arizona$111,000

Arkansas$91,500

California$141,500

Colorado$129,000

Connecticut$115,500

Delaware$122,000

District of Columbia$143,500

Florida$109,500

Georgia$113,500

Hawaii$107,000

Idaho$102,000

Illinois$115,500

Indiana$108,500

Iowa$102,500

Kansas$101,500

Kentucky$107,000

Louisiana$124,500

Maine$111,000

Maryland$130,500

Massachusetts$125,500

Michigan$116,500

Minnesota$110,000

Mississippi$104,000

Missouri$105,000

Montana$102,000

Nebraska$100,000

Nevada$114,000

New Hampshire$115,000

New Jersey$120,500

New Mexico$158,000

New York$114,000

North Carolina$111,000

North Dakota$100,000

Ohio$105,000

Oklahoma$109,000

Oregon$119,000

Pennsylvania$107,500

Rhode Island$128,500

South Carolina$117,500

South Dakota$98,500

Tennessee$108,500

Texas$126,000

Utah$111,000

Vermont$116,000

Virginia$119,000

Washington$125,500

West Virginia$105,000

Wisconsin$100,000

Wyoming$121,000

About this role

Mechanical Engineer is a professional role within the function in the Architecture and Engineering job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Mechanical Engineers do

Typical education: Bachelor's Degree

Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, or computer-generated reports.
Research, design, evaluate, install, operate, or maintain mechanical products, equipment, systems or processes to meet requirements.
Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance specifications, or environmental regulations.
Confer with engineers or other personnel to implement operating procedures, resolve system malfunctions, or provide technical information.
Investigate equipment failures or difficulties to diagnose faulty operation and recommend remedial actions.

Top skills: Reading Comprehension Critical Thinking Active Listening Science Mathematics Judgment and Decision Making

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Mechanical Engineer pay by experience level

Entry level$76,500

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$87,000

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$108,000

Mid-career median pay

Senior$137,000

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$170,000

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

+9.1%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

18,100

projected openings per year

Growing faster than average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Mechanical Engineer salary by industry

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

94,960 workers

$123,500

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services

60,610 workers

$118,000

Machinery Manufacturing

41,730 workers

$105,500

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

31,460 workers

$119,000

Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only)

29,420 workers

$104,000

Scientific Research and Development Services

21,390 workers

$139,500

Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing

18,290 workers

$121,500

Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS

15,210 workers

$126,500

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods

14,740 workers

$110,500

Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

14,590 workers

$100,500

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Mechanical Engineer pays 9% above the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).

Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering

Automotive Engineer$117,500

Environmental Engineer$117,000

Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers$119,500

Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers$121,000

Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists$113,500

Civil Engineer$112,500

Agricultural Engineer$112,000

Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers$124,000

Materials Engineer$124,500

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$110,000

Careers related to Mechanical Engineer

Automotive Engineering Technician$79,000

Electrical Engineer$129,500

Robotics Engineer$129,500

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$83,500

Calibration Technologists and Technicians$77,000

Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$142,000

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Mechanical Engineer make?

The average base salary for a Mechanical Engineer in the United States is $117,500 per year, or about $56.49 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $87,000 and $137,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?

The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $108,000 across 59 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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