Jobs, pay and daily life in Brookings, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Brookings is a city in South Dakota with 23,948 residents. The median household earns $63,493 a year and the median rent is $889 a month, which is 16.8% of the median household income. The nearest metropolitan area with BLS wage data is Sioux Falls, SD-MN (178,590 jobs), about 33 miles away; this place is probably not part of it, so its pay tables are a reference only.
How Brookings compares. Among the 30 largest places in South Dakota, Brookings is #4 by population, #29 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #3 for college degrees (#1 = most), #6 for remote work (#1 = most). Its county, Brookings County, is #7 of 66 counties for average pay ($56,994).
Brookings has 23,948 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 2.6% of the population of South Dakota. It covers 14 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 1,716 people per square mile. The median age is 24.7, 35% younger than the state median (24.7 against 38.0).
The median gross rent is $889 a month (rent plus utilities), 6% below the state median ($889 against $946). Over a year that is 16.8% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $265,500, which is 4.2 times the median household income ($63,493). 47.7% of households own their home, 30% below the state average (47.7% against 68.6%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.
The nearest metropolitan area with wage data is Sioux Falls, SD-MN, metropolitan area has 178,590 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $47,970 a year, 6% below the national median ($47,970 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (20,970 jobs, median $45,340); sales and related (17,860 jobs, median $38,670); healthcare practitioners and technical (17,380 jobs, median $75,610). The area is most specialised in healthcare practitioners and technical (1.5 times) and construction and extraction (1.4 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($117,020) and business and financial operations ($79,030). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Brookings County was 1.4%. 68.2% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Brookings County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.
Among workers, 72.8% drive alone, 0.5% use public transit, 4.8% walk, 10.4% work from home. 3.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 41% below the state average (3.9% against 6.6%).
47.5% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 49% above the state share (47.5% against 31.9%). 7.5% of residents were born outside the United States, 88% above the state share (7.5% against 4.0%). The poverty rate is 16.9%, 42% above the state rate (16.9% against 11.9%).
The warmest month is Jul, averaging 74°F (23.4°C), and the coolest is Jan at 15°F (-9.3°C). About 636 mm (25 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jun is the wettest month (103 mm) and Jan the driest (12 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.
Closest cities in this guide: Madison (26 miles, rent 10% higher); Dell Rapids (33 miles, rent 8% higher); Watertown (46 miles, rent 6% higher); Hartford (48 miles, rent 6% higher). Rent differences are against Brookings; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.
Federal jobs in South Dakota (285) →State guide: South DakotaCountry guideBrookings CountySouth Dakota rankings
These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.
There are 285 federal postings open in South Dakota (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in South Dakota →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 7,680 | 1.98 | $75,350 | $54,040 | $97,330 | -23% |
| Retail Salespersons | 5,960 | 1.33 | $34,600 | $28,750 | $61,880 | -2% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 5,730 | 1.29 | $29,830 | $28,350 | $38,120 | -4% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 5,610 | 1.72 | $37,650 | $29,260 | $46,330 | +1% |
| Cashiers | 4,000 | 1.13 | $30,880 | $27,480 | $37,530 | -6% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 3,390 | 2.15 | $46,910 | $37,300 | $60,030 | -7% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 3,270 | 1.10 | $43,850 | $32,960 | $58,900 | -2% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 3,120 | 1.23 | $35,310 | $28,900 | $44,820 | -4% |
| Nursing Assistants | 2,930 | 1.76 | $39,190 | $31,110 | $45,850 | -7% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 2,550 | 0.98 | $29,920 | $28,020 | $39,060 | -15% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 2,540 | 1.07 | $60,820 | $44,730 | $74,630 | +4% |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | 2,430 | 2.33 | $38,560 | $28,270 | $48,590 | +1% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 2,370 | 1.42 | $80,920 | $62,830 | $119,660 | -3% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 2,210 | 1.56 | $78,740 | $49,020 | $128,680 | +9% |
| Light Truck Drivers | 2,080 | 1.84 | $42,890 | $27,520 | $60,580 | -4% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 2,060 | 1.05 | $42,560 | $29,490 | $52,510 | -10% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,730 | 0.43 | $142,730 | $80,600 | $244,740 | +35% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 1,660 | 0.33 | $38,060 | $33,550 | $47,860 | +6% |
| Carpenters | 1,640 | 2.13 | $49,410 | $39,090 | $67,530 | -18% |
| Software Developers | 1,400 | 0.72 | $101,040 | $65,390 | $173,180 | -26% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | 500 | 0.51 | $163,580 | $119,000 | $246,510 | -2% |
| Pharmacists | 690 | 1.85 | $148,330 | $123,700 | $174,070 | +5% |
| General and Operations Managers | 1,730 | 0.43 | $142,730 | $80,600 | $244,740 | +35% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 500 | 1.36 | $130,390 | $104,220 | $159,330 | -1% |
| Lawyers | 570 | 0.66 | $112,260 | $78,770 | $288,720 | -30% |
| Software Developers | 1,400 | 0.72 | $101,040 | $65,390 | $173,180 | -26% |
| Civil Engineers | 540 | 1.29 | $99,700 | $72,840 | $135,900 | -1% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 530 | 0.88 | $99,140 | $66,710 | $155,510 | -6% |
| Management Analysts | 1,160 | 1.12 | $84,930 | $62,360 | $130,070 | -17% |
| Project Management Specialists | 530 | 0.43 | $84,190 | $59,480 | $126,120 | -18% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | 710 | 1.00 | $82,190 | $60,040 | $106,390 | +3% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 2,370 | 1.42 | $80,920 | $62,830 | $119,660 | -3% |
| Insurance Sales Agents | 660 | 1.19 | $79,690 | $52,870 | $128,530 | +28% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | 990 | 1.06 | $78,940 | $60,990 | $100,160 | -1% |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | 570 | 1.54 | $78,900 | $51,600 | $104,100 | +1% |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 2,210 | 1.56 | $78,740 | $49,020 | $128,680 | +9% |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | 500 | 0.65 | $77,440 | $57,350 | $94,900 | +2% |
| Compliance Officers | 520 | 1.08 | $77,030 | $60,320 | $128,890 | -5% |
| Registered Nurses | 7,680 | 1.98 | $75,350 | $54,040 | $97,330 | -23% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 650 | 0.84 | $73,250 | $55,640 | $95,780 | -2% |
These figures are for the nearest metropolitan area with wage data, Sioux Falls, SD-MN, about 33 miles away. They show what the regional labour market pays; they are not a measure of this city.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,970 (US $50,980); unemployment 1.7% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.9% |
| Manufacturing | 19.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 11.0% |
| Retail trade | 10.1% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 7.9% |
| Other services | 4.6% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 4.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 3.5% |
| Construction | 3.1% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 2.1% |
| Information | 2.0% |
| Public administration | 1.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.6% |
Cities have no official GDP or payroll count of their own. These figures are for the county where Brookings lies and cover the whole county, not only the city.
| County ⇅ | Population ⇅ | GDP (2024) ⇅ | GDP per resident ⇅ | Jobs (QCEW 2024) ⇅ | Employer sites ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Job change vs 2023 ⇅ | Unemployment rate ⇅ | Labour force ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brookings County | 35,353 | $3,062 million | $86,606 | 19,246 | 1,382 | $56,994 | +0.6% | 1.4% | 19,652 |
| Industry ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Share of private jobs ⇅ | Average annual pay ⇅ | Concentration vs US (location quotient) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4,386 | 30.7% | $76,627 | 2.77 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,903 | 13.3% | $19,438 | 1.09 |
| Retail trade | 1,843 | 12.9% | $34,502 | 0.96 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,038 | 7.3% | $43,984 | 0.38 |
| Construction | 958 | 6.7% | $64,298 | 0.95 |
| Professional and technical services | 751 | 5.3% | $77,758 | 0.56 |
| Wholesale trade | 650 | 4.5% | $93,577 | 0.86 |
| Other services (except public administration) | 578 | 4.0% | $41,215 | 1.00 |
| Finance and insurance | 549 | 3.8% | $68,203 | 0.70 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 355 | 2.5% | $60,288 | 0.44 |
| Administrative and waste services | 343 | 2.4% | $48,308 | 0.30 |
| Arts, entertainment, recreation | 316 | 2.2% | $18,303 | 0.98 |
| Real estate and rental | 215 | 1.5% | $48,406 | 0.72 |
| Information | 139 | 1.0% | $60,293 | 0.39 |
| Educational services | 123 | 0.9% | $24,413 | 0.31 |
| Utilities | 75 | 0.5% | $114,409 | 1.02 |
| Management of companies | 66 | 0.5% | $94,744 | 0.20 |
QCEW counts jobs covered by unemployment insurance; sectors with too few employers are withheld by BLS. Latest-month unemployment is preliminary.
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 72.8% |
| Public transit | 0.5% |
| Walk | 4.8% |
| Work from home | 10.4% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 3.9% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,493 |
| Income per person | $32,470 |
| Median gross rent per month | $889 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 16.8% |
| Median home value | $265,500 |
| Homeowners | 47.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% |
| Price level of the nearest metro area (US = 100) | 90.6 |
| Nearest metro median pay, all occupations | $47,970 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: No state tax on wages.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 24.7 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 97.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 47.5% |
| Born abroad | 7.5% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 68.2% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -9.3 | 15 | 12 |
| Feb | -7.8 | 18 | 17 |
| Mar | 0.0 | 32 | 32 |
| Apr | 7.1 | 45 | 59 |
| May | 13.9 | 57 | 84 |
| Jun | 20.0 | 68 | 103 |
| Jul | 23.4 | 74 | 80 |
| Aug | 21.4 | 71 | 80 |
| Sep | 16.7 | 62 | 76 |
| Oct | 7.7 | 46 | 54 |
| Nov | 0.4 | 33 | 19 |
| Dec | -6.7 | 20 | 20 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison | SD | 26 mi | 6,094 | $65,593 | $981 |
| Dell Rapids | SD | 33 mi | 3,905 | $100,170 | $962 |
| Watertown | SD | 46 mi | 23,044 | $69,600 | $942 |
| Hartford | SD | 48 mi | 3,478 | $99,893 | $938 |
| Brandon | SD | 50 mi | 10,996 | $110,806 | $976 |
| Sioux Falls | SD | 53 mi | 201,469 | $75,970 | $1,035 |
| Tea | SD | 59 mi | 6,786 | $120,139 | $1,220 |
| Harrisburg | SD | 60 mi | 8,519 | $108,724 | $1,362 |
| Milbank | SD | 64 mi | 3,525 | $56,011 | $548 |
| Canton | SD | 70 mi | 3,033 | $60,850 | $673 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
23,948 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$889 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 16.8% of the median household income.
$63,493 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
1.4% (BLS county, Brookings County (latest month 2026M09)).
South Dakota. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.