$40,000 in South Dakota
Household income percentile, occupation comparison, and lifestyle context for South Dakota.
Occupations near $40,000 (single earner)
BLS national median wages within ±15% of $40,000 — gives texture for which careers and seniorities land at this income level.
| Occupation | Stage | National wage |
|---|---|---|
| Customer service rep | mid-career | $39,850 |
| Cashier | senior | $41,000 |
| Office clerk | mid-career | $41,000 |
| Electrician | entry-level | $38,000 |
| Plumber | entry-level | $38,000 |
| Restaurant cook | mid-career | $35,780 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. National medians; metro/state variance can be ±30%. Career stage estimates: entry ≈ 25th pct, senior ≈ 75th pct of the same SOC code.
Single earner vs two-earner household
One earner pulling $40,000 typically means a customer service rep or comparable role. Above-median earner status in South Dakota.
Two earners at $20,000 each combined = $40,000. Each individual is below median individually, but the household lands at the same percentile as a single $40,000 earner.
Lifestyle context — rent burden in South Dakota
At $40,000 gross, statewide median rent eats 28% of income — inside the affordable band. Metro areas (LA, SF, NYC, Boston, Seattle) typically run 30-50% above the statewide median.
Home affordability at $40,000
Using the 28% rule on a 30-year mortgage, $40,000 gross supports a home purchase up to about $107,925. South Dakota median home value is $232,000 — you can afford 47% of the median home, so buying requires lower-priced markets, a larger down payment, or co-buying.
How $40,000 ranks in neighboring states
State-adjusted percentile shows the same income placed in South Dakota's contiguous neighbors. Relevant for relocation, remote-work geography, or border-town decisions.
| State | Median HH | % vs median | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota (current) | $71,722 | -44% | 30th |
| Montana | $72,980 | -45% | 30th |
| Iowa | $73,147 | -45% | 30th |
| Wyoming | $74,815 | -47% | 29th |
| Nebraska | $76,079 | -47% | 28th |
| North Dakota | $76,525 | -48% | 28th |
| Minnesota | $87,556 | -54% | 25th |
$40,000 ranks similarly in
Other incomes in South Dakota
Common questions
- Is $40,000 a good household income in South Dakota?
- It's at roughly the 30th percentile for South Dakota after adjusting for the state's median income ($71,722). Nationally that's about the 27th percentile. Whether "good" depends on household size, debt, and metro cost of living — Census medians smooth over big within-state variation.
- How does $40,000 compare to the South Dakota median?
- It's 44% below the South Dakota median household income of $71,722 (Census ACS 2023, table B19013). Half of South Dakota households earn less than $71,722, half earn more.
- Why does this number differ from other percentile calculators?
- Two sources of variation: (1) some calculators use individual income, not household — household income is typically higher because it combines earners. (2) Some use single-year ACS, others use 5-year averages. We use ACS 2023 1-year B19080 for the national distribution and adjust by state median ratio.
Full data sources and formulas: /sources.