Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Design Lead in South Dakota is $82,861 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $40.
However, a Design Lead's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI-Powered HR
Design Lead Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $90,014 | $7,501 | $1,731 | $43 |
| Average | $82,861 | $6,905 | $1,593 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,694 | $6,141 | $1,417 | $35 |
360 Headhunter - Sioux Falls, SD
Anderson Landscaping, Inc. - Sioux Falls, SD
Slumberland Furniture - Yankton, SD
Fimco Industries - North Sioux City, SD
A Design Lead's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Design Lead's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here’s how the average salary grows at different career stages:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Product D... Level Design Lead | $72,585 |
| Design Le... Level Design Lead | $82,335 |
| Product D... Level Design Lead | $102,924 |
| Product D... Level Design Lead | $125,673 |
| Product D... Level Design Lead | $147,224 |
What Am I Worth?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Design Leads. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
For Design Lead roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Hospitality & Leisure and Construction sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Design Lead positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Design Lead as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality & Leisure | $116,006 | $56.0 | 40% |
| Construction | $107,720 | $52.0 | 30% |
| Internet | $103,577 | $50.0 | 25% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $99,434 | $48.0 | 20% |
| MFG Durable | $95,291 | $46.0 | 15% |
Understanding how a Design Lead's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $90,014 | $7,501 | $1,731 | $43 |
| Average | $82,861 | $6,905 | $1,593 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,694 | $6,141 | $1,417 | $35 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Design Lead job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
DJ&A
Sioux Falls, SD
DJ&A | Sioux Falls, SD
Job Description. Job Description. About DJ&A. DJ&A is a multidisciplinary consulting firm that delivers a wide variety of professional services to clients ... more
1 Day Ago
DJ&A
Sioux Falls, SD
DJ&A | Sioux Falls, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Transportation Design Engineers (Entry to Mid-Level). (Vancouver, WA. Missoula or Bozeman, MT. Sioux Falls, SD. Reno, NV.... more
1 Day Ago
Black Tie Components
Hartford, SD
Black Tie Components | Hartford, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Design & Estimating Manager. Truss & Wall Panel Manufacturing. Location. Hartford, South Dakota. Reports to. CEO/Presiden... more
2 Days Ago
Executive Recruiting Consultants
Sioux Falls, SD
Executive Recruiting Consultants | Sioux Falls, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Electrical Design Engineer. Our client is looking for an Electrical Design Engineer with a progressive track record of gr... more
3 Days Ago
Blackburn Foundation Repair
Rapid City, SD
Blackburn Foundation Repair | Rapid City, SD
Job Description. Job Description. System Design Specialist. Pay. 100k+/year (Uncapped earning). Blackburn Foundation Repair has been serving South Dakota a... more
3 Days Ago
Mahlanders Inc.
Sioux Falls, SD
Mahlanders Inc. | Sioux Falls, SD
Job Description. Job Description. Mahlander’s, started in 1906. is a specialty lighting and appliance retailer with a showroom in downtown Sioux Falls. Our... more
3 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
