Truck Driver Salary in South Dakota
Complete 2026 salary data for CDL and non-CDL truck drivers in South Dakota. Compare pay by license type, see cost of living adjustments, and find the highest-paying cities.
CDL-A Avg
$58,550
CDL-B Avg
$42,800
Non-CDL Avg
$44,100
Owner-Op Gross
$178,000
Salary Comparison by License Type
How South Dakota truck driver pay compares across CDL-A, CDL-B, non-CDL, and owner-operator categories.
Cost of Living in South Dakota
South Dakota's cost of living is 12% below the national average. Your salary stretches further here than in most states.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Pay
Nominal CDL-A Salary
$58,550
Adjusted Purchasing Power
$66,534
After adjusting for South Dakota's cost of living index of 88, a CDL-A salary of $58,550 provides the same purchasing power as $66,534 in an average-cost area. This means your money goes further in South Dakota than the raw salary suggests.
Which South Dakota metros pay best?
Our estimate for each of these markets, built from the South Dakota average scaled for metro size. Where two metros show the same number it is because they sit in the same population band — we do not hold data fine-grained enough to separate them, and we would rather say so than invent a difference.
Salary by City in South Dakota
Explore detailed truck driver salary data for individual cities in South Dakota, including cost of living adjustments, top employers, and local market trends.
| City | CDL-A Avg | Cost of Living | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $58,550 | 91 | Stable |
| Rapid City | $56,208 | 93 | Stable |
Salary Trend in South Dakota
South Dakota offers moderate wages but no state income tax and low cost of living create strong take-home pay. Agricultural freight (corn, soybeans, cattle) drives most of the demand.
South Dakota vs National Average
| Category | SD | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CDL-A Average | $58,550 | $59,710 | $-1,160 |
| Cost of Living | 88 | 100 | -12 |
| Adjusted Pay | $66,534 | $59,710 | +$6,824 |
Driving jobs we are recruiting for in South Dakota
Pay on this page is the statewide picture. These are the actual seats we are filling in South Dakota, each with its own pay, home time and requirements.
OTR Dry Van Driver
$54,000 - $76,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Reefer Driver
$58,500 - $83,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Flatbed Driver
$60,500 - $85,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Step Deck Driver
$61,500 - $87,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Tanker Driver
$62,000 - $87,500/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Hazmat Driver
$63,500 - $90,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
OTR Car Hauler Driver
$64,500 - $91,500/year · Out 2–3 weeks
OTR Oversized Driver
$68,000 - $96,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Regional Intermodal Driver
$55,000 - $77,500/year · Home weekly
Local Box Truck Driver
$45,000 - $64,000/year · Home daily
Regional Dump Truck Driver
$51,000 - $72,500/year · Home most nights
Local Cement Mixer Driver
$51,500 - $73,000/year · Home daily
OTR Hotshot Driver
$56,000 - $79,000/year · Out 1–2 weeks
Regional Less Than Truckload Driver
$57,000 - $80,500/year · Home weekly
OTR Power Only Driver
$54,000 - $76,000/year · Out 2–3 weeks
Local Straight Truck Driver
$44,000 - $62,500/year · Home daily
Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking Pay in South Dakota
What do truck drivers earn in South Dakota?
South Dakota CDL-A drivers average $58,550 with no state income tax. Adjusted for the 88% cost of living, the effective purchasing power is $66,534, competitive with many higher-wage states.
What freight opportunities exist in South Dakota?
Agricultural commodities (corn, soybeans, cattle, sunflowers), meatpacking logistics (Smithfield in Sioux Falls), and I-90 corridor traffic. Wind energy equipment hauling is a growing niche in the eastern part of the state.
Is South Dakota a good home base for truckers?
South Dakota is popular as a home base due to no state income tax, low vehicle registration costs, and affordable housing. Many OTR drivers establish residency in Sioux Falls while running nationwide routes.
What does South Dakota pay at your experience level?
- No Experience / Student driver pay in South Dakota
- Entry Level driver pay in South Dakota
- Mid Level driver pay in South Dakota
- Experienced driver pay in South Dakota
- Veteran driver pay in South Dakota