South Dakota · districts and schedules
South Dakota teacher salary schedules
Every South Dakota district in the NCES directory, with enrollment, and the salary schedules indexed for it. Districts marked "not yet indexed" publish their schedules on their own sites; this index only lists grids it has parsed from a source document.
- NCES lists 148 regular public school districts in South Dakota (2023-24 directory); 10 have a step-and-lane schedule indexed here.
- The largest is Sioux Falls School District 49-5 with 25,216 students.
Rankings from the parsed grids
Full ranking: highest paying school districts in South Dakota.
Highest starting bachelor's salary
| District | Starting | Column | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Brandon Valley School District 49-2 | $55,615 | BA | 4,991 |
| 2. Sioux Falls School District | $52,917 | Step 1 | 25,216 |
| 3. Lennox School District 41-4 | $52,600 | BA | 1,224 |
| 4. Aberdeen School District 6-1 | $50,400 | BS (Level 1) | 4,263 |
| 5. White River School District 47-1 | $49,000 | BA | 416 |
| 6. Bison School District 52-1 | $46,500 | BA | 137 |
| 7. Rapid City Area School District No. 51-4 | $46,201 | Salary | 12,432 |
| 8. Estelline School District 28-2 | $45,563 | BA | 275 |
| 9. Hot Springs School District 23-2 | $45,500 | BA | 739 |
| 10. Newell School District 09-2 | $45,500 | BA | 243 |
Highest top-of-schedule cell
| District | Top cell | Column | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sioux Falls School District | $79,277 | Step 10 | 25,216 |
| 2. Aberdeen School District 6-1 | $70,500 | MS+60 or EdD/PhD (Level 7) | 4,263 |
| 3. Lennox School District 41-4 | $63,925 | Doctorate | 1,224 |
| 4. Brandon Valley School District 49-2 | $60,986 | MA+30 | 4,991 |
| 5. White River School District 47-1 | $58,575 | BA+45 MA | 416 |
| 6. Estelline School District 28-2 | $56,513 | MA + 45 | 275 |
| 7. Rapid City Area School District No. 51-4 | $53,786 | PhD/EdD | 12,432 |
| 8. Hot Springs School District 23-2 | $53,250 | MA+45 | 739 |
| 9. Newell School District 09-2 | $53,000 | MA+20 | 243 |
| 10. Bison School District 52-1 | $52,100 | MA+8 | 137 |
Fewest steps to the top cell
| District | Steps to top | Column | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Rapid City Area School District No. 51-4 | 7 | PhD/EdD | 12,432 |
| 2. Sioux Falls School District | 9 | Step 10 | 25,216 |
| 3. Hot Springs School District 23-2 | 10 | MA+45 | 739 |
| 4. Brandon Valley School District 49-2 | 11 | MA+30 | 4,991 |
| 5. Bison School District 52-1 | 11 | MA+8 | 137 |
| 6. Newell School District 09-2 | 12 | MA+20 | 243 |
| 7. Estelline School District 28-2 | 16 | MA + 45 | 275 |
| 8. Lennox School District 41-4 | 20 | Doctorate | 1,224 |
| 9. White River School District 47-1 | 20 | BA+45 MA | 416 |
| 10. Aberdeen School District 6-1 | 31 | MS+60 or EdD/PhD (Level 7) | 4,263 |
All 148 South Dakota districts (NCES 2023-24)
| District | Enrollment | Indexed schedule | Lowest cell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls School District 49-5 Sioux Falls | 25,216 | 26-27 Teacher Salary Schedule 2026-27 | $52,917 |
| Rapid City Area School District 51-4 Rapid City | 12,432 | Placement Grid for New Teachers, Appendix A-1 (2026-27) 2026-27 | $46,201 |
| Harrisburg School District 41-2 Harrisburg | 6,098 | No step grid: The district publishes no teacher salary schedule anywhere on its public website: the employment page, the full documents tree (including policy Sections G and H) and every 2026 board agenda and minutes carry no certified salary schedule or negotiated-agreement salary appendix. Source. | – |
| Brandon Valley School District 49-2 Brandon | 4,991 | Teacher Hiring Schedule, Appendix A (2026-27) 2026-27 | $55,615 |
| Aberdeen School District 06-1 Aberdeen | 4,263 | Teacher Hiring Schedule (2026-27) 2026-27 | $50,400 |
| Watertown School District 14-4 Watertown | 3,690 | No step grid: The 2026-27 Certified Master Contract publishes a salary formula rather than a grid: a regular base salary of $51,500 plus flat accumulated adjustments for education beyond the BA (BA+16 $1,290, BA+38 or MA $3,140, MA+16 $4,830, MA+32 $6,720, Ed.D or Ph.D $8,810) and a $1,650 flat increase for the year, with no per-step dollar figures anywhere in the contract. Source. | – |
| Brookings School District 05-1 Brookings | 3,446 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Yankton School District 63-3 Yankton | 3,086 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Meade School District 46-1 Sturgis | 3,034 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Huron School District 02-2 Huron | 2,935 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Douglas School District 51-1 Box Elder | 2,753 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (column heading 'Masters' is a truncated 'Masters Degree'). Source. | – |
| Mitchell School District 17-2 Mitchell | 2,711 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Pierre School District 32-2 Pierre | 2,688 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (no line above the block labels its columns). Source. | – |
| Tea Area School District 41-5 Tea | 2,408 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (a populated column has no heading). Source. | – |
| Spearfish School District 40-2 Spearfish | 2,387 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Todd County School District 66-1 Mission | 2,049 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Oglala Lakota County 65-1 Batesland | 1,853 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Vermillion School District 13-1 Vermillion | 1,432 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| West Central School District 49-7 Hartford | 1,409 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Dakota Valley School District 61-8 North Sioux City | 1,386 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Belle Fourche School District 09-1 Belle Fourche | 1,296 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Lennox School District 41-4 Lennox | 1,224 | Certified teacher salary schedule (2025-26) 2025-26 | $52,600 |
| Madison Central School District 39-2 Madison | 1,178 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (row without a step label). Source. | – |
| Milbank School District 25-4 Milbank | 1,014 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Dell Rapids School District 49-3 Dell Rapids | 973 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Sisseton School District 54-2 Sisseton | 970 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Tri-Valley School District 49-6 Colton | 932 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Custer School District 16-1 Custer | 906 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Wagner Community School District 11-4 Wagner | 900 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Hamlin School District 28-3 Hayti | 881 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Canton School District 41-1 Canton | 880 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Chamberlain School District 07-1 Chamberlain | 848 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Winner School District 59-2 Winner | 825 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Hot Springs School District 23-2 Hot Springs | 739 | Certified teacher salary schedule (2025-26) 2025-26 | $45,500 |
| Sioux Valley School District 05-5 Volga | 715 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Flandreau School District 50-3 Flandreau | 698 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Elk Point-Jefferson School District 61-7 Elk Point | 690 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (caption names another unit: Extra). Source. | – |
| Beresford School District 61-2 Beresford | 672 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Lead-Deadwood School District 40-1 Lead | 671 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Groton Area School District 06-6 Groton | 601 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Mobridge-Pollock 62-6 Mobridge | 591 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Baltic School District 49-1 Baltic | 580 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (column heading 'BA BA +12' does not read like a lane). Source. | – |
| Bon Homme School District 04-2 Tyndall | 580 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Parkston School District 33-3 Parkston | 569 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Webster Area 18-5 Webster | 548 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Deuel School District 19-4 Clear Lake | 544 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Chester Area School District 39-1 Chester | 542 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Redfield School District 56-4 Redfield | 534 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Platte - Geddes School District 11-5 Platte | 509 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (no line above the block labels its columns). Source. | – |
| Hill City School District 51-2 Hill City | 508 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Clark School District 12-2 Clark | 496 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Britton-Hecla School District 45-4 Britton | 480 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Garretson School District 49-4 Garretson | 480 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| McCook Central School District 43-7 Salem | 472 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Miller 29-4 Miller | 472 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Bennett County School District 03-1 Martin | 471 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Parker School District 60-4 Parker | 469 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Elkton School District 05-3 Elkton | 453 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Gregory School District 26-4 Gregory | 431 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Ipswich Public School District 22-6 Ipswich | 430 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Wessington Springs School District 36-2 Wessington Springs | 429 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| McLaughlin School District 15-2 McLaughlin | 427 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Freeman School District 33-1 Freeman | 424 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Stanley County School District 57-1 Fort Pierre | 418 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Deubrook Area School District 05-6 White | 417 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| White River School District 47-1 White River | 416 | Certified teacher salary schedule (2025-26) 2025-26 | $49,000 |
| Viborg-Hurley School District 60-6 Viborg | 406 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Faulkton Area Schools 24-4 Faulkton | 393 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Hanson School District 30-1 Alexandria | 389 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Timber Lake School District 20-3 Timber Lake | 389 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Eagle Butte School District 20-1 Eagle Butte | 383 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (column heading 'MA / NBC BA + 48' does not read like a lane). Source. | – |
| Dupree School District 64-2 Dupree | 376 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Alcester-Hudson School District 61-1 Alcester | 366 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (no line above the block labels its columns). Source. | – |
| Kimball School District 07-2 Kimball | 363 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Lyman School District 42-1 Presho | 360 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Northwestern Area School District 56-7 Mellette | 359 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| De Smet School District 38-2 De Smet | 354 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Bridgewater-Emery 30-3 Bridgewater | 342 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Castlewood School District 28-1 Castlewood | 338 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Willow Lake School District 12-3 Willow Lake | 338 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Florence School District 14-1 Florence | 332 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Howard School District 48-3 Howard | 328 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (a populated column has no heading). Source. | – |
| Oldham-Ramona-Rutland 39-6 Rutland | 324 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Andes Central School District 11-1 Lake Andes | 322 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Haakon School District 27-1 Philip | 322 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Wolsey Wessington School District 02-6 Wolsey | 318 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Canistota School District 43-1 Canistota | 312 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Warner School District 06-5 Warner | 312 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Kadoka Area School District 35-2 Kadoka | 303 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary (duplicate lane labels ['BA', 'BA + Index', 'BA + Index', 'MA', 'MA + 10']). Source. | – |
| Arlington School District 38-1 Arlington | 301 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Colman-Egan School District 50-5 Colman | 301 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Plankinton School District 01-1 Plankinton | 297 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Lemmon School District 52-4 Lemmon | 292 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Ethan School District 17-1 Ethan | 291 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Irene - Wakonda School District 13-3 Irene | 290 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Gayville-Volin School District 63-1 Gayville | 286 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Centerville School District 60-1 Centerville | 280 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Woonsocket School District 55-4 Woonsocket | 278 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Wall School District 51-5 Wall | 277 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Estelline School District 28-2 Estelline | 275 | Certified teacher salary schedule (2025-26) 2025-26 | $45,563 |
| New Underwood School District 51-3 New Underwood | 274 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Scotland School District 04-3 Scotland | 273 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Corsica-Stickney 21-3 Corsica | 267 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Mount Vernon School District 17-3 Mount Vernon | 266 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Montrose School District 43-2 Montrose | 265 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Waverly School District 14-5 Waverly | 263 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Menno School District 33-2 Menno | 262 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Hitchcock Tulare School District 56-6 Tulare | 247 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Langford Area 45-5 Langford | 247 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Highmore-Harrold 34-2 Highmore | 244 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Newell School District 09-2 Newell | 243 | Certified teacher salary schedule (2025-26) 2025-26 | $45,500 |
| Wilmot School District 54-7 Wilmot | 233 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Avon School District 04-1 Avon | 231 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Agar-Blunt-Onida School District 58-3 Onida | 229 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Rosholt School District 54-4 Rosholt | 227 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Armour School District 21-1 Armour | 224 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Iroquois School District 02-3 Iroquois | 222 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Harding County School District 31-1 Buffalo | 221 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Gettysburg School District 53-1 Gettysburg | 220 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Burke School District 26-2 Burke | 216 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Sanborn Central School District 55-5 Forestburg | 215 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Marion School District 60-3 Marion | 212 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Leola School District 44-2 Leola | 210 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Henry School District 14-2 Henry | 200 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| Frederick Area School District 06-2 Frederick | 195 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Lake Preston School District 38-3 Lake Preston | 188 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Faith School District 46-2 Faith | 186 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Summit School District 54-6 Summit | 186 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Jones County School District 37-3 Murdo | 183 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Selby Area School District 62-5 Selby | 183 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Smee School District 15-3 Wakpala | 183 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Waubay School District 18-3 Waubay | 172 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Eureka School District 44-1 Eureka | 171 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Tripp-Delmont School District 33-5 Tripp | 165 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Colome Consolidated 59-3 Colome | 156 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Doland School District 56-2 Doland | 153 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Herreid School District 10-1 Herreid | 147 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Edmunds Central School District 22-5 Roscoe | 146 | No step grid: This district's negotiated agreement publishes no teacher step-and-lane schedule. South Dakota agreements frequently state only a percentage increase over the previous year's base salary. Source. | – |
| Bison School District 52-1 Bison | 137 | Certified teacher salary schedule (2025-26) 2025-26 | $46,500 |
| Edgemont School District 23-1 Edgemont | 131 | No step grid: The agreement the SDEA holds for this district is a scan with no text layer, so no salary schedule could be read. Source. | – |
| McIntosh School District 15-1 McIntosh | 129 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| White Lake School District 01-3 White Lake | 124 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Hoven School District 53-2 Hoven | 112 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Oelrichs School District 23-3 Oelrichs | 112 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Bowdle School District 22-1 Bowdle | 109 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| South Central 26-5 Bonesteel | 93 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Big Stone City School District 25-1 Big Stone City | 73 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
| Elk Mountain School District 16-2 Edgemont | 18 | schedule not yet indexed | – |
Enrollment is the NCES Common Core of Data 2023-24 membership total for each LEA. District websites are not linked because this index does not verify them; every schedule page links its own source document.