Physics Degree in Sioux Falls, SD — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Sioux Falls, SD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$67K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$113K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Sioux Falls
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Sioux Falls, SD Overview
Sioux Falls, South Dakota (pop. 192,517) has 10 colleges offering Physics programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $929/month. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Sioux Falls is approximately $66,960, growing to $113,400 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,703/yr
Private Tuition
$29,690/yr
Room & Board
$10,050/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,473/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
67%
Physics Salary in Sioux Falls (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Sioux Falls's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Sioux Falls adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Sioux Falls
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Sioux Falls tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,703 | Private avg: $29,690
Sioux Falls avg aid: $7,473/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$87,012
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$29,160
vs HS diploma in Sioux Falls
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Sioux Falls
$722,988
Lifetime earnings premium ($810,000) minus total education cost ($87,012)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Sioux Falls
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Sioux Falls for Physics
Augustana University
private
$38,070/yr
$152,280 total
University of Sioux Falls
private
$21,310/yr
$85,240 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Southeast Technical College
$5,250/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Sioux Falls Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Physics in Nearby South Dakota Cities
Other STEM Majors in Sioux Falls
Prompt Engineering
$54K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$103K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$92K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$95K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$89K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$92K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$86K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Sioux Falls — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Physics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Sioux Falls.