Bachelor's-5% vs national median252 grads tracked
Agricultural Mechanization at South Dakota State University
Ranked 9th of 12 bachelor's programs in Agricultural Mechanization by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$56,406
middle 50%: $46,273 – $66,213
Median · 5 years out
$73,052
middle 50%: $56,749 – $90,670
Median · 10 years out
$87,244
middle 50%: $68,957 – $113,931
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for Agricultural Mechanization (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
Agricultural Mechanization graduates earn a median $56k in their first year. Salary levels reach $87k by the tenth year of employment.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
5.5 yrs
≈ $6,092 total interest
Same major at other universities
Iowa State University of Science & Technology
$81,643 · 5 yrs out
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
$78,843 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$77,666 · 5 yrs out
Purdue University
$77,568 · 5 yrs out
Sam Houston State University
$76,770 · 5 yrs out
University of Minnesota - Crookston
$75,329 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Cobleskill
$74,729 · 5 yrs out
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
$73,677 · 5 yrs out
University of Missouri - Columbia
$71,243 · 5 yrs out
North Carolina State University
$67,512 · 5 yrs out
Stephen F Austin State University
$65,986 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at South Dakota State University
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$152,803 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$152,496 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$148,262 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$142,581 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$113,950 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$100,794 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$97,697 · 5 yrs out
Social Sciences (Doctorate)
$94,389 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$93,240 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$90,181 · 5 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's)
$87,405 · 5 yrs out
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