Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in South Dakota
$37,630avg. a year
$18.09 an hour · 2,120 employed
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in South Dakota earn an average of $37,630 a year. That is $1,180 (3%) less than the U.S. average of $38,810. The best-paying metro area is Rapid City, SD at $38,020.
$36,730Median pay
$18.09Average hourly
+32%Avg. pay since 2020
#28Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying South Dakota metro areas
Average pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria by metro area. Swipe to see all 3.
1260 jobs
Rapid City, SD
$38,020
$18.28 an hour
2630 jobs
Sioux Falls, SD-MN
$37,960
$18.25 an hour
3360 jobs
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
$35,200
$16.92 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in South Dakota, charted
Pay over time
South Dakota, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where South Dakota cooks, institution and cafeteria work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · South Dakota highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $35k$35k–$39k$39k–$44k$44k+South Dakota
South Dakota vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $38,810 | $18.66 |
| South Dakota | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Minnesota | $43,050 | $20.70 |
| North Dakota | $41,140 | $19.78 |
| Montana | $38,950 | $18.73 |
| Wyoming | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| Nebraska | $37,310 | $17.94 |
Related jobs in South Dakota
Average pay, South Dakota, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make in South Dakota?
The average is $37,630 a year, and the median is $36,730. That is $1,180 (3%) less than the U.S. average of $38,810.
What is the hourly wage in South Dakota?
$18.09 an hour on average; the median is $17.66.
Where in South Dakota do they earn the most?
Rapid City, SD ($38,020), followed by Sioux Falls, SD-MN ($37,960). The lowest average among 3 metro areas with data is Sioux City, IA-NE-SD ($35,200).
How does South Dakota rank?
South Dakota ranks #28 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 35-2012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national cooks, institution and cafeteria page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.