Travel nursing contracts in South Dakota advertise a median of $2,635 a week, with the middle half between $2,495 and $2,880, across 40 open nursing contracts on CircleRN. These are advertised weekly totals before tax, usually including tax-free stipends; for almost all postings the figure is the top of an advertised range. Not take-home pay. Every open contract is on the South Dakota job board.
Travel nurses in South Dakota have access to 10 furnished rental listings, 4 reviewed hospitals, and ongoing pay data on CircleRN. All data is submitted by working travel nurses.
53 openings across 9 cities from $2,224–$3,828/week.
All 53 openings in South Dakota
8 hospitals in South Dakota are hiring travel nurses, 31 openings in all. Each page lists the openings by specialty with advertised weekly pay, cost of living and housing nearby.
10 furnished rentals with a median rent of $2,000/month.
For the same specialties, South Dakota pays about 18% above the national median, across 40 open listings. Each opening is compared with the national median for its own specialty. Once South Dakota prices are counted, that is worth about +33%.
Statewide, prices run 11% lower overall. Individual metros vary, so check the city page for where you are going.
| Category | Index | vs national |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 88.6 | 11% lower |
| Housing | 67.6 | 32% lower |
| Utilities | 79.7 | 20% lower |
| Groceries and goods | 95.5 | 5% lower |
| Services | 91.9 | 8% lower |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024, where 100 is the national average.
A two-bedroom runs about $928/month, the median across 62 South Dakota cities (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2025, utilities included).
The federal ceiling on tax-free lodging reimbursement across South Dakota runs $113–$173 per night depending on the area, plus up to $80 a day for meals (GSA, FY2027). That is a maximum, not what agencies pay. Look up the exact rate for any ZIP code.
South Dakota is a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so an active multistate license covers you here. A single-state license from elsewhere does not. Check your license with the compact checker.
Hospitals in South Dakota reviewed by travel nurses
Of the 5 nursing specialties with open contracts in South Dakota, OR pays the most at $2,928 per week and LTAC the least at $2,495.
| Specialty | Open contracts | Median weekly |
|---|---|---|
| Telemetry | 6 | $2,623 |
| ICU | 6 | $2,876 |
| Med-Surg | 5 | $2,621 |
| OR | 4 | $2,928 |
| LTAC | 3 | $2,495 |