Founder / Entrepreneur.
Sioux Falls.
$97,000
median salary, 16% below the national average
$46,000 to $206,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Founder / Entrepreneur in Sioux Falls earns a median of $97,000 in 2026. That is 16% below the national average. The range runs from $46,000 to $206,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Funding stage, company revenue, and investor expectations create extreme variance in founder salaries.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $87,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$63,000
to $78,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$82,000
to $102,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$107,000
to $126,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$121,000
to $150,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $26,000 to the total package.
Base
$97,000
Equity
$15,000
Bonus
$9,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $123,000
How Sioux Falls compares
Sioux Falls, SD
$97,000
Cost of living: 15% below average
National Average
$115,000
Sioux Falls is $18,000 below
Founder / Entrepreneur salary by city
Salary by role in Sioux Falls
What you should know
The Founder / Entrepreneur landscape in Sioux Falls is not what most salary sites will tell you. Sioux Falls is South Dakota's largest city and a growing financial services hub, home to major credit card operations for Citibank and Wells Fargo. The city's no state income tax and very low cost of living create exceptional take home pay ratios. Healthcare and agriculture round out the economy. Funding stage, company revenue, and investor expectations create extreme variance in founder salaries. Pre-seed founders often take minimal salary or none at all, while Series B and later founders pay themselves competitive market rates. Revenue-generating bootstrapped founders set salaries based on profitability and personal financial needs.
Pre-seed founders take $0 to $60,000 in salary while building initial product. Seed-stage founders with institutional funding earn $75,000 to $120,000. Series A founders pay themselves $120,000 to $175,000. Series B and beyond allows $175,000 to $250,000, approaching market CEO rates. In Sioux Falls, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 15% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity is the primary compensation vehicle, with founders holding 10 to 100% ownership depending on stage and co-founders. Salary is secondary until profitability or institutional funding allows market-rate pay. Health insurance and minimal benefits are often the only non-equity compensation in early stages. And on the tax side: south Dakota has no state income tax. Sioux Falls has no city income tax. This zero income tax environment is a major draw for high earners seeking maximum take home pay. When someone quotes you $97,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the zero income tax advantage in negotiations. Sioux Falls employers know this is a major recruiting tool and will frame compensation accordingly. The range for Founder / Entrepreneurs in Sioux Falls runs from $46,000 to $206,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A AI Policy Analyst in Sioux Falls earns $98,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Sioux Falls is Chief AI Officer at $253,000
Common questions.
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