What is the median wage in South Dakota?

The median wage for all occupations in South Dakota is $47,080 a year, compared with $50,980 a year for the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).

What is the highest paying job in South Dakota?

Among occupations with at least 50 jobs, radiologists have the highest median wage in South Dakota at $586,010 a year.

What is the most common job in South Dakota?

Fast Food and Counter Workers is the largest occupation, with 15,150 jobs and a median wage of $29,490 a year.

Checked Oct 23, 2026

South Dakota Wages by Occupation

Median pay for every occupation in South Dakota and its metro areas from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025).

Median wage: $47,080 a year; All occupations
U.S. median: $50,980 a year
Employment: 457,380; Wage and salary jobs
Occupations with data: 567

Pay range in South Dakota

All occupations: 10th to 90th percentile, middle half shaded

10%: $29,300Median: $47,08090%: $94,900

Highest paying occupations

Occupations with at least 50 jobs here

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#	Occupation	Employment	Median wage	Mean wage
1	Radiologists	70	$586,010	$534,640
2	Emergency Medicine Physicians	170	$393,870	$335,490
3	Obstetricians and Gynecologists	80	$297,610	$307,380
4	Chief Executives	510	$280,900	$336,560
5	General Internal Medicine Physicians	160	$280,520	$331,820
6	Nurse Anesthetists	400	$263,930	$249,720
7	Pediatricians, General	80	$257,610	$288,400
8	Family Medicine Physicians	550	$239,970	$258,390
9	Anesthesiologists	210	$239,200 or more	$239,200 or more
10	Physicians, All Other	200	$239,200 or more	$239,200 or more
11	Surgeons, All Other	120	$239,200 or more	$239,200 or more
12	Psychiatrists	60	$226,180	$270,220
13	Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric	130	$211,990	$225,800
14	Marketing Managers	220	$167,750	$172,390
15	Architectural and Engineering Managers	310	$164,330	$166,030

Most common occupations

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

#	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
9	Nursing Assistants	6,860	$38,800	$39,510
10	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	6,470	$58,690	$58,550
11	Customer Service Representatives	6,120	$40,650	$42,940
12	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	6,120	$41,700	$42,030
13	Accountants and Auditors	5,820	$78,880	$85,030
14	Receptionists and Information Clerks	5,760	$38,280	$38,420
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products	5,220	$77,210	$81,270

Jobs concentrated here

Highest location quotient: the share of jobs compared with the U.S. (2.0 = twice the national share)

Lowest paying occupations

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

Occupation	Employment	Median wage	Mean wage
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term	1,610	$27,840	$29,220
Childcare Workers	2,370	$27,940	$29,720
Dishwashers	1,240	$28,190	$29,220
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	4,650	$28,220	$29,520
Packers and Packagers, Hand	1,040	$28,760	$32,400
Waiters and Waitresses	7,350	$28,990	$30,860
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians	160	$29,190	$29,940
Bartenders	3,930	$29,400	$31,940
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers	320	$29,430	$29,470
Fast Food and Counter Workers	15,150	$29,490	$30,900

Every occupation in South Dakota

Median wage by occupation group

Management Occupations (30)

Administrative Services Managers$106,410 a year
Architectural and Engineering Managers$164,330 a year
Chief Executives$280,900 a year
Computer and Information Systems Managers$162,240 a year
Construction Managers$118,380 a year
Education Administrators, All Other$108,990 a year
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$88,390 a year
Education Administrators, Postsecondary$126,160 a year
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare$63,240 a year
Emergency Management Directors$67,180 a year
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$76,000 a year
Facilities Managers$101,280 a year
Financial Managers$159,700 a year
Food Service Managers$60,640 a year
Funeral Home Managers$100,880 a year
General and Operations Managers$137,400 a year
Human Resources Managers$117,930 a year
Industrial Production Managers$107,490 a year
Lodging Managers$61,920 a year
Managers, All Other$119,470 a year
Marketing Managers$167,750 a year
Medical and Health Services Managers$122,050 a year
Natural Sciences Managers$128,140 a year
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents$91,540 a year
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$49,490 a year
Purchasing Managers$128,670 a year
Sales Managers$136,360 a year
Social and Community Service Managers$86,870 a year
Training and Development Managers$124,150 a year
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$107,410 a year

Business and Financial Operations Occupations (29)

Accountants and Auditors$78,880 a year
Budget Analysts$79,180 a year
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$85,340 a year
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$73,990 a year
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,900 a year
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$64,630 a year
Compliance Officers$72,630 a year
Cost Estimators$74,950 a year
Credit Analysts$73,040 a year
Credit Counselors$48,890 a year
Financial and Investment Analysts$99,150 a year
Financial Examiners$88,690 a year
Financial Risk Specialists$78,960 a year
Financial Specialists, All Other$86,260 a year
Fundraisers$66,800 a year
Human Resources Specialists$67,590 a year
Insurance Underwriters$83,130 a year
Labor Relations Specialists$57,900 a year
Loan Officers$79,920 a year
Logisticians$80,020 a year
Management Analysts$83,620 a year
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$63,490 a year
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$47,050 a year
Personal Financial Advisors$128,720 a year
Project Management Specialists$82,250 a year
Property Appraisers and Assessors$63,350 a year
Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$63,790 a year
Tax Preparers$52,530 a year
Training and Development Specialists$61,570 a year

Computer and Mathematical Occupations (14)

Computer Network Architects$153,390 a year
Computer Network Support Specialists$53,650 a year
Computer Occupations, All Other$105,370 a year
Computer Programmers$58,240 a year
Computer Systems Analysts$99,790 a year
Computer User Support Specialists$48,260 a year
Data Scientists$96,150 a year
Database Administrators$82,540 a year
Database Architects$136,540 a year
Information Security Analysts$116,640 a year
Network and Computer Systems Administrators$75,010 a year
Software Developers$96,310 a year
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$68,120 a year
Web Developers$51,100 a year

Architecture and Engineering Occupations (21)

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$102,500 a year
Architectural and Civil Drafters$52,470 a year
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists$72,910 a year
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,880 a year
Civil Engineers$98,700 a year
Computer Hardware Engineers$101,400 a year
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,340 a year
Electrical and Electronics Drafters$50,840 a year
Electrical Engineers$98,980 a year
Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$84,150 a year
Engineers, All Other$112,260 a year
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians$53,960 a year
Environmental Engineers$98,890 a year
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$54,570 a year
Industrial Engineers$93,200 a year
Landscape Architects$70,620 a year
Mechanical Drafters$52,610 a year
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$53,670 a year
Mechanical Engineers$88,380 a year
Surveying and Mapping Technicians$50,050 a year
Surveyors$77,190 a year

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations (30)

Agricultural Technicians$41,420 a year
Animal Scientists$77,300 a year
Anthropologists and Archeologists$63,130 a year
Atmospheric and Space Scientists$78,900 a year
Biological Scientists, All Other$73,920 a year
Biological Technicians$41,300 a year
Chemical Technicians$49,030 a year
Chemists$67,440 a year
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$80,130 a year
Conservation Scientists$76,400 a year
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$44,180 a year
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$68,230 a year
Food Science Technicians$48,760 a year
Food Scientists and Technologists$71,330 a year
Forensic Science Technicians$51,690 a year
Forest and Conservation Technicians$54,770 a year
Foresters$64,460 a year
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers$71,150 a year
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$51,630 a year
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$80,890 a year
Microbiologists$70,530 a year
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$88,610 a year
Physicists$83,050 a year
Psychologists, All Other$132,170 a year
School Psychologists$78,370 a year
Social Science Research Assistants$44,820 a year
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$86,260 a year
Soil and Plant Scientists$73,590 a year
Urban and Regional Planners$71,180 a year
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$65,890 a year

Community and Social Service Occupations (14)

Child, Family, and School Social Workers$51,100 a year
Clergy$59,860 a year
Community Health Workers$45,700 a year
Directors, Religious Activities and Education$53,360 a year
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$51,830 a year
Health Education Specialists$57,370 a year
Healthcare Social Workers$57,510 a year
Marriage and Family Therapists$44,870 a year
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$48,920 a year
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$66,870 a year
Rehabilitation Counselors$49,350 a year
Social and Human Service Assistants$38,350 a year
Social Workers, All Other$93,760 a year
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$53,650 a year

Legal Occupations (3)

Lawyers$102,040 a year
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,320 a year
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$59,300 a year

Educational Instruction and Library Occupations (47)

Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$35,760 a year
Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$98,220 a year
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$63,380 a year
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$63,160 a year
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$76,570 a year
Business Teachers, Postsecondary$72,650 a year
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$72,940 a year
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$56,070 a year
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary$75,810 a year
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary$71,300 a year
Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$75,540 a year
Curators$74,990 a year
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$85,700 a year
Education Teachers, Postsecondary$63,350 a year
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$63,010 a year
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$50,130 a year
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$97,700 a year
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$62,960 a year
Farm and Home Management Educators$60,440 a year
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$81,080 a year
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$78,720 a year
History Teachers, Postsecondary$69,220 a year
Instructional Coordinators$57,910 a year
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$49,410 a year
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$51,210 a year
Library Technicians$29,590 a year
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$64,620 a year
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$50,980 a year
Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$66,630 a year
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$58,000 a year
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary$86,010 a year
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary$72,580 a year
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$44,500 a year
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$65,020 a year
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary$62,280 a year
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$51,050 a year
Self-Enrichment Teachers$49,720 a year
Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary$60,100 a year
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary$64,210 a year
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$51,090 a year
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$51,360 a year
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$54,810 a year
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$27,840 a year
Teachers and Instructors, All Other$67,200 a year
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$28,220 a year
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary$39,840 a year
Tutors$38,760 a year

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations (23)

Art Directors$66,610 a year
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys$40,630 a year
Broadcast Technicians$32,150 a year
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film$44,160 a year
Choreographers$40,320 a year
Coaches and Scouts$36,360 a year
Commercial and Industrial Designers$60,110 a year
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners$75,210 a year
Disc Jockeys, Except Radio$27.27 an hour
Editors$56,730 a year
Film and Video Editors$39,090 a year
Floral Designers$33,910 a year
Graphic Designers$48,390 a year
Interior Designers$65,220 a year
Interpreters and Translators$53,140 a year
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$40,190 a year
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$43,520 a year
Photographers$45,330 a year
Producers and Directors$60,260 a year
Public Relations Specialists$64,520 a year
Technical Writers$63,350 a year
Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials$35,260 a year
Writers and Authors$56,700 a year

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations (53)

Anesthesiologists$239,200 or more a year
Athletic Trainers$58,620 a year
Audiologists$91,190 a year
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$67,290 a year
Chiropractors$76,210 a year
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,890 a year
Dental Hygienists$92,210 a year
Dentists, General$158,140 a year
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,820 a year
Dietitians and Nutritionists$64,890 a year
Emergency Medical Technicians$36,800 a year
Emergency Medicine Physicians$393,870 a year
Exercise Physiologists$51,630 a year
Family Medicine Physicians$239,970 a year
General Internal Medicine Physicians$280,520 a year
Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$60,740 a year
Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$52,970 a year
Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other$83,780 a year
Hearing Aid Specialists$54,910 a year
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$52,750 a year
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$77,010 a year
Medical Records Specialists$51,610 a year
Nuclear Medicine Technologists$82,010 a year
Nurse Anesthetists$263,930 a year
Nurse Practitioners$128,840 a year
Obstetricians and Gynecologists$297,610 a year
Occupational Therapists$85,050 a year
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$42,430 a year
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$211,990 a year
Opticians, Dispensing$43,400 a year
Optometrists$102,320 a year
Oral and Maxillofacial SurgeonsNot reported
Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$239,200 or more a year
Orthotists and Prosthetists$80,760 a year
Paramedics$48,830 a year
Pediatricians, General$257,610 a year
Pharmacists$146,790 a year
Pharmacy Technicians$46,170 a year
Physical Therapists$92,660 a year
Physician Assistants$133,200 a year
Physicians, All Other$239,200 or more a year
Psychiatrists$226,180 a year
Radiation Therapists$97,470 a year
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$65,240 a year
Radiologists$586,010 a year
Recreational Therapists$46,850 a year
Registered Nurses$78,060 a year
Respiratory Therapists$68,240 a year
Speech-Language Pathologists$65,680 a year
Surgeons, All Other$239,200 or more a year
Surgical Technologists$59,870 a year
Veterinarians$88,650 a year
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$45,300 a year

Healthcare Support Occupations (14)

Dental Assistants$47,900 a year
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$44,610 a year
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$37,740 a year
Massage Therapists$52,000 a year
Medical Assistants$41,870 a year
Medical Equipment Preparers$42,330 a year
Medical Transcriptionists$46,070 a year
Nursing Assistants$38,800 a year
Occupational Therapy Assistants$56,180 a year
Pharmacy Aides$36,130 a year
Phlebotomists$39,560 a year
Physical Therapist Aides$31,330 a year
Physical Therapist Assistants$49,310 a year
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$34,700 a year

Protective Service Occupations (19)

Animal Control Workers$45,530 a year
Correctional Officers and Jailers$53,040 a year
Crossing Guards and Flaggers$46,940 a year
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$77,730 a year
Firefighters$48,160 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$77,400 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$72,420 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$87,810 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other$76,400 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$57,880 a year
Fish and Game Wardens$68,810 a year
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators$33,820 a year
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$30,990 a year
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,740 a year
Private Detectives and Investigators$44,840 a year
Protective Service Workers, All Other$42,260 a year
School Bus Monitors$34,380 a year
Security Guards$37,150 a year
Transportation Security Screeners$55,530 a year

Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations (14)

Bartenders$29,400 a year
Chefs and Head Cooks$48,470 a year
Cooks, Fast Food$30,950 a year
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$36,730 a year
Cooks, Restaurant$36,220 a year
Cooks, Short Order$32,380 a year
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$29,920 a year
Dishwashers$28,190 a year
Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,490 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$40,640 a year
Food Preparation Workers$30,430 a year
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$31,980 a year
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$30,310 a year
Waiters and Waitresses$28,990 a year

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations (8)

First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$46,860 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,680 a year
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,480 a year
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$35,370 a year
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,950 a year
Pest Control Workers$49,920 a year
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$46,320 a year
Tree Trimmers and Pruners$50,430 a year

Personal Care and Service Occupations (21)

Amusement and Recreation Attendants$29,730 a year
Animal Caretakers$30,390 a year
Animal Trainers$38,120 a year
Baggage Porters and Bellhops$27,490 a year
Childcare Workers$27,940 a year
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$40,070 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$44,470 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$47,720 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$49,860 a year
Funeral Attendants$37,170 a year
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners$30,620 a year
Gambling Dealers$36,190 a year
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$49,800 a year
Manicurists and Pedicurists$45,310 a year
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$47,840 a year
Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other$50,990 a year
Recreation Workers$42,270 a year
Residential Advisors$38,420 a year
Skincare Specialists$38,230 a year
Tour and Travel Guides$35,100 a year
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$29,430 a year

Sales and Related Occupations (18)

Advertising Sales Agents$60,190 a year
Cashiers$29,780 a year
Counter and Rental Clerks$36,400 a year
Demonstrators and Product Promoters$29,560 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$105,680 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$56,680 a year
Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$30,020 a year
Insurance Sales Agents$71,990 a year
Parts Salespersons$45,370 a year
Real Estate Sales Agents$65,170 a year
Retail Salespersons$34,370 a year
Sales and Related Workers, All Other$61,550 a year
Sales Engineers$119,110 a year
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,770 a year
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$77,210 a year
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsNot reported
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$86,780 a year
Travel Agents$44,510 a year

Office and Administrative Support Occupations (39)

Bill and Account Collectors$46,620 a year
Billing and Posting Clerks$46,180 a year
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$46,340 a year
Brokerage Clerks$56,080 a year
Cargo and Freight Agents$64,340 a year
Couriers and Messengers$31,650 a year
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$43,850 a year
Customer Service Representatives$40,650 a year
Data Entry Keyers$34,320 a year
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$43,920 a year
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$52,350 a year
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$55,170 a year
File Clerks$36,640 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,530 a year
Gambling Cage Workers$33,300 a year
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$30,550 a year
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$45,150 a year
Information and Record Clerks, All Other$53,290 a year
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$45,610 a year
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$43,930 a year
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$47,790 a year
Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,000 a year
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$37,580 a year
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$45,810 a year
Office Clerks, General$38,560 a year
Order Clerks$48,010 a year
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$47,680 a year
Postal Service Clerks$58,470 a year
Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,760 a year
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$61,570 a year
Procurement Clerks$46,690 a year
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,530 a year
Public Safety Telecommunicators$47,900 a year
Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,280 a year
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks$35,860 a year
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,700 a year
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$43,680 a year
Tellers$38,460 a year
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$44,430 a year

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations (8)

Agricultural Equipment Operators$48,060 a year
Animal Breeders$44,850 a year
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$42,260 a year
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$38,000 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$57,880 a year
Forest and Conservation Workers$38,210 a year
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$39,900 a year
Logging Equipment Operators$58,740 a year

Construction and Extraction Occupations (38)

Brickmasons and Blockmasons$60,380 a year
Carpenters$48,140 a year
Carpet Installers$40,420 a year
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$47,160 a year
Construction and Building Inspectors$64,940 a year
Construction Laborers$45,710 a year
Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$48,850 a year
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas$57,160 a year
Electricians$61,390 a year
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$116,320 a year
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$48,250 a year
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters$56,780 a year
Fence Erectors$48,380 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77,690 a year
Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles$58,930 a year
Glaziers$47,140 a year
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$51,420 a year
Helpers--Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters$49,150 a year
Helpers--Carpenters$34,700 a year
Helpers--Electricians$35,620 a year
Helpers--Extraction Workers$45,250 a year
Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$36,500 a year
Highway Maintenance Workers$48,610 a year
Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$45,820 a year
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,500 a year
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$48,160 a year
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$60,140 a year
Pipelayers$50,650 a year
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$51,620 a year
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators$64,500 a year
Roofers$47,710 a year
Roustabouts, Oil and Gas$50,370 a year
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners$40,040 a year
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas$49,920 a year
Sheet Metal Workers$47,800 a year
Solar Photovoltaic Installers$42,380 a year
Structural Iron and Steel Workers$57,050 a year
Tile and Stone Setters$50,640 a year

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations (38)

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$75,750 a year
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers$38,860 a year
Automotive Body and Related Repairers$49,460 a year
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$51,160 a year
Avionics Technicians$83,220 a year
Bicycle Repairers$31,500 a year
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,120 a year
Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$43,860 a year
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$59,700 a year
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$98,090 a year
Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$50,150 a year
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,900 a year
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$101,830 a year
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,310 a year
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,140 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$80,810 a year
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,390 a year
Home Appliance Repairers$47,340 a year
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,560 a year
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$48,490 a year
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$48,100 a year
Maintenance Workers, Machinery$45,240 a year
Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers$46,890 a year
Mechanical Door Repairers$50,500 a year
Medical Equipment Repairers$69,530 a year
Millwrights$61,820 a year
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,730 a year
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians$46,840 a year
Motorcycle Mechanics$46,490 a year
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$41,580 a year
Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers$63,620 a year
Rail Car Repairers$71,750 a year
Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians$39,820 a year
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$55,690 a year
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,000 a year
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$49,560 a year
Tire Repairers and Changers$38,800 a year
Wind Turbine Service Technicians$73,820 a year

Production Occupations (60)

Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and TendersNot reported
Bakers$38,340 a year
Butchers and Meat Cutters$37,310 a year
Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$45,950 a year
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$48,830 a year
Chemical Plant and System Operators$59,970 a year
Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders$44,770 a year
Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,980 a year
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$50,750 a year
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$66,650 a year
Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders$45,520 a year
Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,330 a year
Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,980 a year
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,060 a year
Dental Laboratory Technicians$48,370 a year
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$43,180 a year
Engine and Other Machine Assemblers$45,930 a year
Etchers and Engravers$40,590 a year
Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$49,620 a year
Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$43,240 a year
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators$48,410 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$73,040 a year
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders$45,040 a year
Food Batchmakers$39,200 a year
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$39,270 a year
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders$48,200 a year
Furniture Finishers$39,340 a year
Gas Plant Operators$101,450 a year
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic$39,060 a year
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,240 a year
Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers$45,110 a year
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$32,780 a year
Machinists$50,890 a year
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$44,290 a year
Medical Appliance Technicians$52,950 a year
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$43,240 a year
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,000 a year
Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$40,750 a year
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,700 a year
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,860 a year
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers$31,550 a year
Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,910 a year
Plant and System Operators, All Other$57,430 a year
Power Distributors and Dispatchers$130,270 a year
Prepress Technicians and Workers$46,370 a year
Print Binding and Finishing Workers$41,350 a year
Printing Press Operators$44,930 a year
Production Workers, All Other$44,910 a year
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$46,040 a year
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$37,480 a year
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,780 a year
Sewing Machine Operators$39,000 a year
Slaughterers and Meat Packers$44,410 a year
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$68,090 a year
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$50,800 a year
Tool and Die Makers$59,770 a year
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$53,370 a year
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$49,440 a year
Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,520 a year
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$41,740 a year

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations (26)

Airfield Operations Specialists$37,860 a year
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians$29,190 a year
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$36,050 a year
Bus Drivers, School$39,730 a year
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$41,590 a year
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,050 a year
Commercial Pilots$83,710 a year
Conveyor Operators and Tenders$44,890 a year
Crane and Tower Operators$71,000 a year
Driver/Sales Workers$45,050 a year
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling$64,780 a year
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators$44,440 a year
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,690 a year
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$47,410 a year
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$38,980 a year
Light Truck Drivers$43,240 a year
Locomotive Engineers$69,180 a year
Machine Feeders and Offbearers$39,310 a year
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$53,790 a year
Packers and Packagers, Hand$28,760 a year
Parking Attendants$34,220 a year
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$62,730 a year
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$32,950 a year
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$36,310 a year
Stockers and Order Fillers$37,650 a year
Transportation Inspectors$70,080 a year

Metro and nonmetro areas in South Dakota

All occupations. Areas that cross state lines are listed under their main state

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

Area	Median wage	Employment
Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$47,970	178,590
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area	$46,520	133,090
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$47,030	75,010
Rapid City, SD	$46,270	73,820
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area	$45,530	62,880

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, compared with $50,980 a year for the U.S. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
What is the highest paying job in South Dakota?: Among occupations with at least 50 jobs, radiologists have the highest median wage in South Dakota at $586,010 a year.
What is the most common job in South Dakota?: Fast Food and Counter Workers is the largest occupation, with 15,150 jobs and a median wage of $29,490 a year.

Data sources

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

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More jobs data for this state

South Dakota jobs overview: unemployment, minimum wage, H-1B, federal openings and more.

About this data

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Wage estimates come from employer surveys and exclude the self-employed. They describe typical pay, not what any one employer pays.

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