Diesel mechanic salary in South Dakota
Median $27.94 an hour for 1,340 diesel mechanics, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Diesel mechanic pay in South Dakota: the full range
South Dakota ranks 43rd of 51 states for median diesel mechanic pay, and 20th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.53). 1,340 diesel mechanics work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $21.88 – $23.83 | $45,500 – $49,570 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $23.83 – $31.35 | $49,570 – $65,200 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $31.35 – $37.89 | $65,200 – $78,810 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Diesel mechanic pay by metro in South Dakota
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $23.55 | $30.14 | $33.79 | $37.88 | 160 | 8% above |
| Sioux Falls | $22.50 | $29.67 | $32.75 | $39.00 | 620 | 6% above |
| Sioux City | $22.26 | $29.13 | $33.68 | $39.84 | 180 | 4% above |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Diesel mechanic wages in South Dakota over time
Table
| Year | South Dakota $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $12.06 | $23.31 | $14.77 | 1,510 |
| 2000 | $12.49 | $23.35 | $15.55 | 1,230 |
| 2001 | $13.23 | $24.05 | $16.14 | 1,090 |
| 2002 | $13.53 | $24.21 | $16.53 | 970 |
| 2003 | $14.12 | $24.71 | $16.81 | 850 |
| 2004 | $14.29 | $24.35 | $17.20 | 680 |
| 2005 | $14.79 | $24.38 | $17.61 | 730 |
| 2006 | $15.11 | $24.13 | $18.11 | 1,020 |
| 2007 | $15.39 | $23.90 | $18.58 | 1,050 |
| 2008 | $16.51 | $24.69 | $18.94 | 1,050 |
| 2009 | $16.97 | $25.47 | $19.35 | 870 |
| 2010 | $17.61 | $26.00 | $19.64 | 1,030 |
| 2011 | $18.23 | $26.09 | $20.02 | 1,110 |
| 2012 | $18.34 | $25.72 | $20.35 | 1,090 |
| 2013 | $18.85 | $26.05 | $20.54 | 1,130 |
| 2014 | $18.64 | $25.35 | $20.98 | 1,040 |
| 2015 | $19.91 | $27.04 | $21.40 | 1,060 |
| 2016 | $19.72 | $26.45 | $21.72 | 960 |
| 2017 | $20.56 | $27.00 | $22.29 | 900 |
| 2018 | $20.40 | $26.15 | $22.76 | 930 |
| 2019 | $21.55 | $27.14 | $23.32 | 990 |
| 2020 | $22.03 | $27.40 | $24.13 | 1,100 |
| 2021 | $23.07 | $27.41 | $23.41 | 1,290 |
| 2022 | $25.86 | $28.45 | $26.14 | 1,220 |
| 2023 | $28.50 | $30.11 | $28.35 | 1,270 |
| 2024 | $29.42 | $30.19 | $29.15 | 1,130 |
| 2025 | $27.94 | $27.94 | $29.70 | 1,340 |
In today's dollars, the median diesel mechanic wage in South Dakota changed by +3.3% over the last ten years of data and by +3.0% since 2019.
Are there more diesel mechanic jobs in South Dakota?
BLS counted 1,340 diesel mechanics in South Dakota in May 2025, an estimate with a relative standard error of 13%. With fewer than 3,000 jobs or a wide margin of error, year-to-year changes are within the survey's noise and are not shown as a trend.
Outlook for diesel mechanics in South Dakota
South Dakota's labor market agency projects the number of diesel mechanics in the state to change by +8.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 1,170 to 1,270, with about 110 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +3.6% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed and use a different base year, so they do not match the 1,340 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: South Dakota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Is construction work growing in South Dakota?
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Diesel mechanic pay in neighbouring states
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Questions this page answers
How much do diesel mechanics make in South Dakota?
The median diesel mechanic in South Dakota earned $27.94 an hour ($58,120 a year) in May 2025, 6% below the national median of $29.70. The middle half earn $23.83–$31.35; the top 10% earn more than $37.89.
Where does South Dakota rank for diesel mechanic pay?
South Dakota ranks 43rd of 51 states for diesel mechanic pay, with a median of $27.94 an hour, and 20th after adjusting for South Dakota's cost of living (BEA price parity 88.6, US = 100).
What is the union diesel mechanic rate in South Dakota?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a diesel mechanic classification for most South Dakota counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many diesel mechanics work in South Dakota?
BLS counted 1,340 diesel mechanics in South Dakota in May 2025, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.57; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is diesel mechanic work growing in South Dakota?
South Dakota's labor market agency projects +8.4% growth for diesel mechanics between 2024 and 2034, from 1,170 to 1,270 jobs.
How many diesel mechanic openings a year are there in South Dakota?
South Dakota projects about 110 openings a year for diesel mechanics over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 24,400 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, South Dakota and metro areas, SOC 49-3031. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: South Dakota labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.