Last Updated :
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July 3, 2019
South Dakota Occupational Statistics- Total Employees in the State: 422,310
- 1 Year Change in Employment: -29,850 (-6.6%)
- Average Annual Pay in the State: $41,814
- 1 Year Change in Annual Pay: $3,984 (10.5%)
Occupation Categories
There are 422,310 employed workers in South Dakota. The occupation with the greatest number of workers is Office and Administrative Support Occupations, which employs 63,050 people. This represents 14.9% of all workers in the state. The next 2 occupations that have the most workers are Sales and Related Occupations and Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations, which employ 46,820 and 41,760 respectively.
| Occupation Category | # Employees | % of State |
|---|
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 63,050 | 14.9% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 46,820 | 11.1% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 41,760 | 9.9% |
| Production Occupations | 32,440 | 7.7% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 31,250 | 7.4% |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 29,810 | 7.1% |
| Education Training and Library Occupations | 24,710 | 5.9% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | 22,060 | 5.2% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 19,690 | 4.7% |
| Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations | 16,950 | 4.0% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | 16,750 | 4.0% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | 14,700 | 3.5% |
| Management Occupations | 11,870 | 2.8% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 11,030 | 2.6% |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | 8,160 | 1.9% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | 6,780 | 1.6% |
| Protective Service Occupations | 6,630 | 1.6% |
| Arts Design Entertainment Sports and Media Occupations | 5,430 | 1.3% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | 4,920 | 1.2% |
| Life Physical and Social Science Occupations | 4,160 | 1.0% |
| Legal Occupations | 1,720 | 0.4% |
| Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations | 1,620 | 0.4% |
Occupation Changes Since Last Year
The occupation with the largest increase in the number of workers is
Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations, which currently employs 16,950 people. In the last year, the number of workers has increased from 16,150 an increase of 800 or 5.0%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest change in workers are
Business and Financial Operations Occupations and
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, which increased 580 and 500 respectively.
The occupation with the largest decrease in the number of workers is
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations, which currently employs 16,750 people. In the last year, the number of workers has decreased from 17,260 or 3.0%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest decreases in workers are
Personal Care and Service Occupations and
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations, which decreased 320 and 270 respectively.
Occupation Changes Since 2009
The occupation with the largest increase in the number of workers, since the recession ended in 2009, is
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, which currently employs 31,250 people. Since 2009, the number of workers has increased from 25,010 an increase of 6,240 or 25.0%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest change in workers are
Business and Financial Operations Occupations and
Production Occupations, which increased 3,960 and 3,810 respectively.
The occupation with the largest decrease in the number of workers is
Office and Administrative Support Occupations, which currently employs 63,050 people. Since 2009, the number of workers has decreased from 68,410 or 7.8%.
| Occupation Category | # Employees | % Change |
|---|
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | 8,160 | 38.3% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 19,690 | 25.2% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 31,250 | 25.0% |
| Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations | 1,620 | 23.7% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | 14,700 | 23.1% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | 6,780 | 20.6% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | 4,920 | 17.4% |
| Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations | 16,950 | 14.7% |
| Production Occupations | 32,440 | 13.3% |
| Protective Service Occupations | 6,630 | 10.3% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | 41,760 | 7.4% |
| Education Training and Library Occupations | 24,710 | 7.0% |
| Management Occupations | 11,870 | 6.6% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 46,820 | 6.4% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 11,030 | 6.1% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | 16,750 | 4.0% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | 22,060 | 3.9% |
| Arts Design Entertainment Sports and Media Occupations | 5,430 | 3.8% |
| Life Physical and Social Science Occupations | 4,160 | 3.0% |
| Legal Occupations | 1,720 | 2.4% |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | 29,810 | 0.8% |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 63,050 | -7.8% |
Detailed Occupations
The detailed occupation with the greatest number of workers is
Retail Salespersons, which employs 15,970 people. This represents 3.8% of all workers in the state. The next 2 occupations that have the most workers are
Cashiers and
Registered Nurses, which employ 13,080 and 12,760 respectively.
The Top 10 Occupations in South Dakota are:| Occupation Category | # Employees | % of State |
|---|
| Retail Salespersons | 15,970 | 3.8% |
| Cashiers | 13,080 | 3.1% |
| Registered Nurses | 12,760 | 3.0% |
| Bookkeeping Accounting and Auditing Clerks | 9,670 | 2.3% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 8,880 | 2.1% |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers Including Fast Food | 8,860 | 2.1% |
| Janitors and Cleaners Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 8,300 | 2.0% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 7,880 | 1.9% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 7,540 | 1.8% |
| Laborers and Freight Stock and Material Movers Hand | 6,280 | 1.5% |
Detailed Occupations Since 2009
The detailed occupation with the largest increase in the number of workers is
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers Including Fast Food, which currently employs 8,860 people. Since 2009, the number of workers has increased from 7,230 an increase of 1,630 or 22.5%. The next 2 detailed occupations that have the next largest change in workers are
Retail Salespersons and
Cashiers, which increased 1,420 and 1,410 respectively.
The detailed occupation with the largest decrease in the number of workers is
Bill and Account Collectors, which currently employs 2,780 people. In the last year, the number of workers has decreased from 4,640 or 40.1%. The next 2 occupations that have the next largest decreases in workers are
Food Preparation Workers and
Cooks Fast Food, which decreased 1,420 and 1,000 respectively.
The Top 10 Detailed Occupations With The Largest Increase Since 2009 are:| Occupation Category | # Employees | % Change |
|---|
| Food Batchmakers | 720 | 300.0% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 240 | 300.0% |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | 750 | 257.1% |
| Cartographers and Photogrammetrists | 140 | 250.0% |
| Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics | 270 | 237.5% |
| Financial Specialists All Other | 170 | 183.3% |
| Interior Designers | 150 | 150.0% |
| Postal Service Clerks | 410 | 141.2% |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 120 | 140.0% |
| Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | 70 | 133.3% |
The 10 Occupations With The Largest Decrease Since 2009 are:| Occupation Category | # Employees | % Change |
|---|
| Grinding and Polishing Workers Hand | 50 | -82.8% |
| Credit Authorizers Checkers and Clerks | 160 | -79.7% |
| Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters Operators and Tenders Metal and Plastic | 40 | -75.0% |
| Locker Room Coatroom and Dressing Room Attendants | 40 | -73.3% |
| Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters Operators and Tenders Metal and Plastic | 60 | -70.0% |
| Postmasters and Mail Superintendents | 100 | -67.7% |
| Helpers--Carpenters | 230 | -62.3% |
| Tool Grinders Filers and Sharpeners | 40 | -60.0% |
| Helpers--Electricians | 170 | -59.5% |
| Medical Secretaries | 100 | -58.3% |
Occupation Pay
The occupation with the highest annual pay is
Management Occupations, which pays an average of $107,120 per year. This represents 156.2% above the state average pay. The next 2 occupations that have the highest average pay are
Legal Occupations and
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, which pay $81,210 and $71,380 per year, respectively.
| Occupation Category | Avg Pay | vs State Avg |
|---|
| Management Occupations | $107,120 | 256.2% |
| Legal Occupations | $81,210 | 194.2% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | $71,380 | 170.7% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | $68,120 | 162.9% |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | $65,680 | 157.1% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | $63,470 | 151.8% |
| Life Physical and Social Science Occupations | $55,890 | 133.7% |
| Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations | $47,100 | 112.6% |
| Education Training and Library Occupations | $42,270 | 101.1% |
| Protective Service Occupations | $41,820 | 100.0% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | $40,430 | 96.7% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | $39,790 | 95.2% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | $38,620 | 92.4% |
| Arts Design Entertainment Sports and Media Occupations | $38,170 | 91.3% |
| Production Occupations | $34,850 | 83.3% |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $34,770 | 83.2% |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | $32,210 | 77.0% |
| Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations | $31,360 | 75.0% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | $29,590 | 70.8% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $26,680 | 63.8% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | $26,160 | 62.6% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $23,210 | 55.5% |
Occupation Pay Changes Since 2009
The occupation with the largest increase in the average annual pay, since the recession ended in 2009, is
Management Occupations, which currently pays an average of $107,120 per year. Since 2009, pay has increased from $81,640 an increase of $25,480 or 31.2%. The next 2 occupations that pay the most to their workers are
Legal Occupations and
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations, which increased $17,110 and $13,590 respectively.
| Occupation Category | Annual $ | % Change |
|---|
| Management Occupations | $107,120 | 31.2% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | $38,620 | 28.9% |
| Legal Occupations | $81,210 | 26.7% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations | $23,210 | 26.6% |
| Installation Maintenance and Repair Occupations | $47,100 | 24.9% |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | $65,680 | 24.4% |
| Transportation and Material Moving Occupations | $34,770 | 23.7% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | $71,380 | 23.5% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | $68,120 | 23.4% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | $26,680 | 23.4% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | $26,160 | 23.0% |
| Farming Fishing and Forestry Occupations | $31,360 | 22.2% |
| Protective Service Occupations | $41,820 | 22.2% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | $63,470 | 22.1% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | $39,790 | 21.7% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | $29,590 | 21.4% |
| Production Occupations | $34,850 | 21.4% |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | $32,210 | 21.1% |
| Arts Design Entertainment Sports and Media Occupations | $38,170 | 17.0% |
| Life Physical and Social Science Occupations | $55,890 | 16.7% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | $40,430 | 14.0% |
| Education Training and Library Occupations | $42,270 | 12.8% |
Detailed Occupation Annual Compensation
The detailed occupation that pays their workers the most is
Anesthesiologists, which pays $293,110 per year. This represents 701.0% above the state average of $41,814. The next 2 occupations that pay their workers the most are
Internists General and
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which pay $287,890 and $274,250 respectively.
Highest Paid OccupationsThe Top 10 Paying Occupations in South Dakota are:
| Occupation Category | Ann'l Pay | % of State |
|---|
| Anesthesiologists | $293,110 | 701.0% |
| Internists General | $287,890 | 688.5% |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $274,250 | 655.9% |
| Chief Executives | $251,950 | 602.6% |
| Physicians and Surgeons All Other | $227,710 | 544.6% |
| Family and General Practitioners | $214,030 | 511.9% |
| Pediatricians General | $211,230 | 505.2% |
| Dentists All Other Specialists | $204,060 | 488.0% |
| Dentists General | $198,170 | 473.9% |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $188,360 | 450.5% |
Lowest Paid OccupationsThe 10 Lowest Paying Occupations in South Dakota are:
| Occupation Category | Ann'l Pay | % of State |
|---|
| Locker Room Coatroom and Dressing Room Attendants | $20,160 | 48.2% |
| Childcare Workers | $21,330 | 51.0% |
| Dishwashers | $21,340 | 51.0% |
| Ushers Lobby Attendants and Ticket Takers | $21,500 | 51.4% |
| Hosts and Hostesses Restaurant Lounge and Coffee Shop | $21,670 | 51.8% |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $21,670 | 51.8% |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $21,820 | 52.2% |
| Counter Attendants Cafeteria Food Concession and Coffee Shop | $21,860 | 52.3% |
| Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers Including Fast Food | $21,910 | 52.4% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $21,930 | 52.4% |
This page was created and is maintained by Kurt Tietjen, Founder of Stavera, High Peak Media & HomeGearWorks.com. Kurt is an executive, data scientist and software engineer who holds an MBA in Management Information Systems. In 2010, he partnered with scientists at Northwestern University to launch The Street Wire. This was one of the first mainstream uses of what would become “Narrative Science”, an artificial intelligence platform specializing in natural language generation. You can contact Kurt on LinkedIn here.