Registered Nurse Salary in Sioux Falls, SD: $79,351 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Sioux Falls, SD earns a median $79,351/year (≈ $38.15/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Sioux Falls's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.6), that paycheck buys what $87,554 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 16.8% below the South Dakota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the landscape for registered nurse salaries shows an interesting dynamic between staff and travel nursing roles. Projected for 2026, the median annual salary for registered nurses in the area stands at $79,351, which is approximately 22.76% below the national median of $102,730. The salary range also reflects this disparity, with figures climbing from $56,910 at the 10th percentile up to $102,498 at the 90th percentile, indicating a wide gap depending on experience and specialization. Such data, derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, highlights the structural pay differential that exists in this market, particularly as staffing challenges continue to shape hiring practices and compensation structures.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $56,910 | $27.36 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $68,525 | $32.95 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $79,351 | $38.15 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $86,028 | $41.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $102,498 | $49.27 |
Median Salary Position
22.76% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sioux Falls
In Sioux Falls, SD, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $45,588 (2026 est.). At $79,351, the local median is 22.76% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Sioux Falls: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Sioux Falls Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Sioux Falls median: $79,351/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sioux Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Average | $95,374 | -16.80% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -22.76% less |
Registered Nurses in Sioux Falls, SD earn a median of $79,351 per year (2026 est.), which is 22.76% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 16.80% below the South Dakota state average of $95,374.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sioux Falls has a cost of living 9.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Sioux Falls, SD has a cost-of-living index of 90.631 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $79,351 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $87,554 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.34% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$59,150
2025 BLS Actual
$75,350
2026 Current Est.
$79,351
2019–2027 Growth
+41.3%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Sioux Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,150 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,700 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,550 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,810 | Actual |
| 2023 | $67,030 | Actual |
| 2024 | $68,890 | Actual |
| 2025 | $75,350 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $79,351 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $83,565 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sioux Falls metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 27.4% from $59,150 (2019) to $75,350 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $83,565 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,415 (41.28%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sioux Falls metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $56,910 – $68,525 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $68,525 – $79,351 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $79,351 – $86,028 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $86,028 – $102,498 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Sioux Falls
With about 7,680 registered nurses employed in Sioux Falls, the job market remains robust despite the lower-than-national compensation. The cost-of-living index stands at 90.631, which means that while salaries may lag behind the national standard, the purchasing power for nurses in the area can be more favorable. Employers such as acute care hospital systems and specialty clinics offer competitive pay, especially for roles that require additional certifications or critical care experience. The pay disparity between the lowest and highest salaries can often be attributed to factors like shift differentials for night and weekend work, which add $3 to $7 per hour, as well as the importance of advanced certifications and positions in Magnet-status hospitals. For those looking to maximize their earning potential, pursuing specialty certifications from bodies like the AACN or participating in travel nursing assignments can be effective strategies to enhance overall compensation in Sioux Falls, SD.
More salary data for Sioux Falls, SD:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $75,350 for registered nursesin the Sioux Falls metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov