South Dakota Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for South Dakota from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $47,080 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 2.0%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $11.85/hr
- State law
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $477
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in South Dakota
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | 170 | $393,870 | $335,490 |
| 2 | Chief Executives | 510 | $280,900 | $336,560 |
| 3 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 160 | $280,520 | $331,820 |
| 4 | Nurse Anesthetists | 400 | $263,930 | $249,720 |
| 5 | Family Medicine Physicians | 550 | $239,970 | $258,390 |
| 6 | Anesthesiologists | 210 | $239,200 or more | $239,200 or more |
| 7 | Physicians, All Other | 200 | $239,200 or more | $239,200 or more |
| 8 | Surgeons, All Other | 120 | $239,200 or more | $239,200 or more |
Most common jobs in South Dakota
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 15,150 | $29,490 | $30,900 |
| 2 | Registered Nurses | 14,710 | $78,060 | $77,140 |
| 3 | Retail Salespersons | 14,180 | $34,370 | $39,720 |
| 4 | Cashiers | 12,860 | $29,780 | $31,320 |
| 5 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 11,460 | $37,650 | $37,000 |
| 6 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 10,200 | $46,340 | $46,630 |
| 7 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 8,630 | $35,480 | $36,360 |
| 8 | Waiters and Waitresses | 7,350 | $28,990 | $30,860 |
Wages by metro area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)371 certified, median offer $78,469
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)310 certified, median offer $35,360
Top H-1B employers in South Dakota
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanford School Of Medicine of the University of South Dakota Residency | 30 | $69,000 |
| 2 | South Dakota State University | 27 | $93,000 |
| 3 | Sanford Clinic | 24 | $152,339 |
| 4 | Avera McKennan | 23 | $331,200 |
| 5 | Monument Health Rapid City Hospital, Inc. | 23 | $239,200 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls School District 49-5 | 19 | $58,432 |
| 7 | Sicangu Oyate Ho, Inc. | 15 | $48,900 |
| 8 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 15 | $81,220 |
More South Dakota labor data
- Unemployment by county2.0% statewide
- Jobs by industry470,500 jobs, +0.4% in a year
- Minimum wage$11.85 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$477 a week on average
- Union membership2.3% in 2025
- Federal job openings205 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in South Dakota?
- The median wage for all occupations in South Dakota is $47,080 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in South Dakota?
- South Dakota's unemployment rate was 2.0% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in South Dakota?
- Emergency Medicine Physicians have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in South Dakota: $393,870 a year.