Skilled Wages

Highest-paying and most in-demand trades in South Dakota

27 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states, the union scale and the state's own projection of which trades are growing.

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025

Every trade in South Dakota, ranked by median pay

Ranked median wagesMedian wageCost-of-living adjusted$0$20$40$60$80/hrConstruction manager: $56.91 (cost-of-living adjusted $64.23)Construction manager$56.91Elevator mechanic: $55.92 (cost-of-living adjusted $63.12)Elevator mechanic$55.92Lineman: $46.79 (cost-of-living adjusted $52.81)Lineman$46.79Construction supervisor: $37.35 (cost-of-living adjusted $42.16)Construction supervisor$37.35Wind turbine technician: $35.49 (cost-of-living adjusted $40.06)Wind turbine technician$35.49Crane operator: $34.13 (cost-of-living adjusted $38.52)Crane operator$34.13Millwright: $29.72 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.54)Millwright$29.72Electrician: $29.51 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.31)Electrician$29.51HVAC technician: $29.51 (cost-of-living adjusted $33.31)HVAC technician$29.51Brickmason: $29.03 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.77)Brickmason$29.03Heavy equipment operator: $28.61 (cost-of-living adjusted $32.29)Heavy equipment operator$28.61Diesel mechanic: $27.94 (cost-of-living adjusted $31.53)Diesel mechanic$27.94Ironworker: $27.43 (cost-of-living adjusted $30.96)Ironworker$27.43Plumber: $24.82 (cost-of-living adjusted $28.01)Plumber$24.82Machinist: $24.47 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.62)Machinist$24.47Tile setter: $24.34 (cost-of-living adjusted $27.47)Tile setter$24.34Welder: $23.77 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.83)Welder$23.77Drywall installer: $23.49 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.51)Drywall installer$23.49Painter: $23.15 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.13)Painter$23.15Carpenter: $23.14 (cost-of-living adjusted $26.12)Carpenter$23.14Sheet metal worker: $22.98 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.94)Sheet metal worker$22.98Roofer: $22.94 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.89)Roofer$22.94Cement mason: $22.67 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.59)Cement mason$22.67Glazier: $22.66 (cost-of-living adjusted $25.58)Glazier$22.66Insulation worker: $22.03 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.86)Insulation worker$22.03Construction laborer: $21.98 (cost-of-living adjusted $24.81)Construction laborer$21.98Solar installer: $20.37 (cost-of-living adjusted $22.99)Solar installer$20.37
Median hourly wage by trade in South Dakota, May 2025. Thin marker: cost-of-living adjusted (BEA price parity 88.6, US = 100).
#TradeMedian $/hrMedian $/yr90th pct $/hrJobsState rank10-yr real changevs US
1Construction manager$56.91$118,380$77.611,07018th of 51-0.1%3% above
2Elevator mechanic$55.92$116,320$57.74—17th of 37-3.4%6% above
3Lineman$46.79$97,310$56.9974027th of 51+4.6%2% above
4Construction supervisor$37.35$77,690$47.092,36033rd of 51-1.7%3% below
5Wind turbine technician$35.49$73,820$38.131809th of 25-17.4%15% above
6Crane operator$34.13$71,000$45.0012022nd of 50+11.7%4% above
7Millwright$29.72$61,820$35.8624035th of 48+8.4%6% below
8Electrician$29.51$61,390$38.492,98036th of 51-2.1%3% below
9HVAC technician$29.51$61,390$36.151,61024th of 51-0.6%1% above
10Brickmason$29.03$60,380$41.3632029th of 50-2.2%3% below
11Heavy equipment operator$28.61$59,500$36.482,05031st of 51+14.7%1% below
12Diesel mechanic$27.94$58,120$37.891,34043rd of 51+3.3%6% below
13Ironworker$27.43$57,050$35.9644038th of 50+23.9%9% below
14Plumber$24.82$51,620$35.811,76050th of 51-10.5%19% below
15Machinist$24.47$50,890$29.2583049th of 51+2.2%13% below
16Tile setter$24.34$50,640$32.613024th of 47-15.8%9% below
17Welder$23.77$49,440$30.473,25045th of 51+5.2%8% below
18Drywall installer$23.49$48,850$28.5536033rd of 49+12.2%17% below
19Painter$23.15$48,160$28.6367031st of 51+26.1%3% below
20Carpenter$23.14$48,140$31.684,56049th of 51+8.4%21% below
21Sheet metal worker$22.98$47,800$41.7232046th of 50-2.9%23% below
22Roofer$22.94$47,710$28.4640036th of 51+23.5%14% below
23Cement mason$22.67$47,160$30.472,55045th of 51+13.3%17% below
24Glazier$22.66$47,140$28.2222041st of 50-3.6%17% below
25Insulation worker$22.03$45,820$29.0034041st of 48—7% below
26Construction laborer$21.98$45,710$25.171,78035th of 51+23.1%3% below
27Solar installer$20.37$42,380$35.385032nd of 32—20% below

Most in-demand trades in South Dakota

By the South Dakota labor market agency's 2024–2034 projections, the fastest-growing trades are wind turbine technicians (+58.3%), electricians (+15.7%), tile setters (+15.1%). The most openings a year, counting replacements as well as growth, come from carpenters (500 a year), welders (420 a year), electricians (330 a year). The largest specialty-contractor group in the state is building equipment contractors (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), with 8,641 jobs (2025 annual average, QCEW).

TradeProjected change 2024–2034Openings a yearJobs in 2024Median $/hr
Wind turbine technician+58.3%40230$35.49
Electrician+15.7%3303,090$29.51
Tile setter+15.1%10140$24.34
HVAC technician+13.8%1201,210$29.51
Construction manager+13.1%1401,520$56.91
Construction laborer+13.1%2302,330$21.98
Ironworker+12.3%50480$27.43
Roofer+11.7%40510$22.94
Heavy equipment operator+11.5%2302,360$28.61
Crane operator+10.9%1060$34.13
Insulation worker+10.7%20250$22.03
Construction supervisor+10.5%2302,620$37.35

Source: South Dakota long-term occupational projections via Projections Central; state counts include the self-employed. Projections, not guarantees; see each trade page for the national BLS outlook.

Construction jobs in South Dakota

32.1kConstruction jobs2026-09
+3.2%Change over 12 months
+21.1%Change over 5 years
Construction employment, 1990-20260k10k20k30k40k1990199520002005201020152020202532kSep 2026
Construction employment in South Dakota, thousands, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted.

Prevailing wage in South Dakota

Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In South Dakota, 48 of 66 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $53.15/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.

Questions this page answers

What is the highest-paying trade in South Dakota?

Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $56.91 an hour in May 2025, followed by elevator mechanics ($55.92) and linemen ($46.79).

Which trades are in highest demand in South Dakota?

By projected growth between 2024 and 2034, wind turbine technicians (+58.3%), electricians (+15.7%), tile setters (+15.1%). By openings a year, carpenters (500 a year), welders (420 a year), electricians (330 a year). The figures come from South Dakota's labor market agency via Projections Central and count replacement openings as well as new jobs.

How does South Dakota compare with the rest of the country?

Across the 27 trades listed, 6 pay above the national median in South Dakota and 21 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 88.6% of the US average (BEA).

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Dakota.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-09.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities.
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).