National Salary » Most Popular Jobs in South Dakota

Top 200 Popular Jobs in South Dakota

What professions have the highest employment in South Dakota? In this article we show the top 200 jobs that employ the highest number of people in South Dakota. We note that the total employment in South Dakota is 435,260. The most popular job is the registered nurses profession, which employs 14,360 people (3.30 percent of the total employment in South Dakota). The second most common job is the fast food and counter worker profession which employs 14,300 people (3.29 percent of the total employment). The employment and salary information in South Dakota is computed from data published by BLS in April 2023 [1].

Table 1. 200 most popular jobs in South Dakota (2022 survey)

Rank	Job Description	# of Empl. i	% of Empl. i	Average Salary i
1	All Occupations	435,260	100.00%	$39,870
2	Registered Nurses	14,360	3.30%	$62,920
3	Fast Food and Counter Workers	14,300	3.29%	$27,070
4	Retail Salespersons	13,370	3.07%	$30,300
5	Cashiers	12,040	2.77%	$27,270
6	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks	10,180	2.34%	$38,510
7	Stockers and Order Fillers	8,980	2.06%	$30,990
8	Customer Service Representatives	8,490	1.95%	$36,290
9	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	7,890	1.81%	$29,800
10	Waiters and Waitresses	6,260	1.44%	$27,040
11	Receptionists and Information Clerks	6,250	1.44%	$30,930
12	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	6,220	1.43%	$49,290
13	Accountants and Auditors	5,980	1.37%	$67,350
14	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive	5,960	1.37%	$35,360
15	Nursing Assistants	5,940	1.36%	$30,890
16	Wholesale and Manufacturing (Except Technical and Scientific Products) Sales Representatives	5,350	1.23%	$66,030
17	Carpenters	4,340	1.00%	$38,730
18	Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary	4,240	0.97%	$27,980
19	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education	4,100	0.94%	$47,890
20	Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers	4,010	0.92%	$32,480
21	Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators	4,000	0.92%	$37,130
22	Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	3,950	0.91%	$26,620
23	Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers	3,920	0.90%	$40,760
24	Home Health and Personal Care Aides	3,830	0.88%	$30,750
25	General and Operations Managers	3,720	0.85%	$126,050
26	Bartenders	3,430	0.79%	$27,210
27	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers	3,420	0.79%	$48,250
28	Maintenance and Repair Workers, General	3,400	0.78%	$40,040
29	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	3,390	0.78%	$48,010
30	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	3,150	0.72%	$44,710
31	Shipping, Receiving, and Traffic Clerks	2,920	0.67%	$37,940
32	Management Analysts	2,750	0.63%	$78,360
33	Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers	2,690	0.62%	$30,320
34	Childcare Workers	2,640	0.61%	$24,900
35	Food Preparation Workers	2,560	0.59%	$27,100
36	Office Clerks, General	2,430	0.56%	$29,540
37	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers	2,370	0.54%	$37,640
38	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers	2,330	0.54%	$26,260
39	Electricians	2,230	0.51%	$51,430
40	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	2,120	0.49%	$47,500
41	Bill and Account Collectors	2,120	0.49%	$37,680
42	Institution and Cafeteria Cooks	2,100	0.48%	$31,060
43	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers	2,100	0.48%	$67,360
44	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants	2,050	0.47%	$44,580
45	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers	2,040	0.47%	$40,090
46	Insurance Sales Agents	2,030	0.47%	$60,950
47	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators	2,000	0.46%	$49,310
48	Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics	1,980	0.45%	$46,120
49	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education	1,960	0.45%	$48,960
50	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers	1,940	0.45%	$51,560
51	Highway Maintenance Workers	1,940	0.45%	$40,700
52	Short Order Cooks	1,930	0.44%	$29,470
53	Loan Officers	1,890	0.43%	$70,640
54	Loan Interviewers and Clerks	1,890	0.43%	$40,030
55	Software Developers	1,840	0.42%	$80,290
56	Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers	1,830	0.42%	$50,980
57	Fast Food Cooks	1,820	0.42%	$27,800
58	Parts Salespersons	1,810	0.42%	$39,380
59	Network and Computer Systems Administrators	1,790	0.41%	$70,370
60	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks	1,780	0.41%	$27,740
61	Tellers	1,770	0.41%	$34,640
62	Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers	1,760	0.40%	$38,250
63	Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators	1,750	0.40%	$41,690
64	Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products Sales Representatives	1,740	0.40%	$102,660
65	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	1,740	0.40%	$64,590
66	Child, Family, and School Social Workers	1,690	0.39%	$45,640
67	Amusement and Recreation Attendants	1,690	0.39%	$24,770
68	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	1,660	0.38%	$49,080
69	Construction Laborers	1,650	0.38%	$36,270
70	Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers	1,640	0.38%	$32,320
71	Restaurant Cooks	1,570	0.36%	$30,360
72	Residential Advisors	1,560	0.36%	$30,220
73	Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors	1,550	0.36%	$45,780
74	Short-Term Substitute Teachers	1,530	0.35%	$29,280
75	Packers and Packagers	1,510	0.35%	$27,380
76	Human Resources Specialists	1,390	0.32%	$57,680
77	Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists	1,360	0.31%	$59,380
78	Security Guards	1,350	0.31%	$30,750
79	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers	1,350	0.31%	$73,870
80	Civil Engineers	1,330	0.31%	$81,480
81	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	1,330	0.31%	$42,830
82	School Bus Drivers	1,330	0.31%	$36,300
83	Correctional Officers and Jailers	1,300	0.30%	$42,400
84	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians	1,290	0.30%	$49,430
85	Dishwashers	1,290	0.30%	$25,780
86	Driver/Sales Workers	1,290	0.30%	$33,280
87	Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	1,290	0.30%	$29,100
88	Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	1,280	0.29%	$29,230
89	Computer User Support Specialists	1,220	0.28%	$43,700
90	Pharmacists	1,220	0.28%	$131,940
91	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	1,220	0.28%	$53,780
92	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	1,200	0.28%	$50,830
93	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors	1,180	0.27%	$62,020
94	Pharmacy Technicians	1,170	0.27%	$36,770
95	Food Service Managers	1,130	0.26%	$59,410
96	Medical Records Specialists	1,130	0.26%	$47,330
97	Lawyers	1,080	0.25%	$85,980
98	Property, Real Estate Managers	1,070	0.25%	$45,790
99	Coaches and Scouts	1,060	0.24%	$38,930
100	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers	1,060	0.24%	$50,520
101	Buyers and Purchasing Agents	1,010	0.23%	$65,950
102	Dental Assistants	1,010	0.23%	$45,910
103	Compliance Officers	1,000	0.23%	$59,860
104	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	1,000	0.23%	$41,440
105	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators	1,000	0.23%	$46,490
106	Radiologic Technologists	990	0.23%	$61,210
107	Medical Assistants	990	0.23%	$35,230
108	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders	980	0.23%	$38,880
109	Medical and Health Services Managers	960	0.22%	$104,940
110	Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks	950	0.22%	$38,330
111	Physical Therapists	930	0.21%	$84,260
112	Cost Estimators	900	0.21%	$62,550
113	Postal Service Mail Carriers	900	0.21%	$53,790
114	Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists	890	0.20%	$59,160
115	Computer Systems Analysts	890	0.20%	$85,130
116	Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors	890	0.20%	$47,800
117	Billing and Posting Clerks	880	0.20%	$38,970
118	Project Management Specialists	850	0.20%	$65,860
119	Structural Iron and Steel Workers	850	0.20%	$47,040
120	Nonfarm Animal Caretakers	840	0.19%	$28,080
121	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	830	0.19%	$48,840
122	Kindergarten and Elementary School Special Education Teachers	820	0.19%	$49,310
123	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists	820	0.19%	$36,230
124	Nurse Practitioners	810	0.19%	$108,250
125	Food Batchmakers	810	0.19%	$38,080
126	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	810	0.19%	$33,690
127	Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors	800	0.18%	$33,280
128	Computer Network Architects	780	0.18%	$154,290
129	Court, Municipal, and License Clerks	780	0.18%	$37,410
130	Machinists	780	0.18%	$46,370
131	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians	770	0.18%	$59,560
132	Automotive Body and Related Repairers	760	0.17%	$49,920
133	Slaughterers and Meat Packers	760	0.17%	$40,140
134	Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation	750	0.17%	$40,260
135	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance	750	0.17%	$39,310
136	Industrial Engineers	740	0.17%	$83,180
137	Recreation Workers	740	0.17%	$37,450
138	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers	740	0.17%	$96,580
139	Financial Managers	730	0.17%	$142,330
140	Other Business Operations Specialists	730	0.17%	$72,820
141	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators	720	0.17%	$65,960
142	Social and Human Service Assistants	720	0.17%	$31,450
143	Information Security Analysts	710	0.16%	$101,130
144	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines	710	0.16%	$58,910
145	Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	710	0.16%	$82,490
146	Butchers and Meat Cutters	700	0.16%	$33,300
147	Mechanical Engineers	680	0.16%	$82,810
148	Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	670	0.15%	$47,200
149	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	670	0.15%	$42,650
150	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	660	0.15%	$47,600
151	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	660	0.15%	$40,770
152	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers	650	0.15%	$28,440
153	Elementary and Secondary School Education Administrators	640	0.15%	$82,220
154	Healthcare Social Workers	640	0.15%	$45,490
155	Emergency Medical Technicians	640	0.15%	$31,150
156	Industrial Production Managers	630	0.14%	$102,980
157	Legal Secretaries	630	0.14%	$37,780
158	Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs	630	0.14%	$30,310
159	Financial Analysts	620	0.14%	$78,610
160	Counter and Rental Clerks	610	0.14%	$30,640
161	Forest and Conservation Workers	610	0.14%	$31,900
162	Painters, Construction and Maintenance	600	0.14%	$41,470
163	Computer Network Support Specialists	590	0.14%	$50,460
164	Physician Assistants	570	0.13%	$122,550
165	Dental Hygienists	570	0.13%	$75,810
166	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel	570	0.13%	$56,760
167	Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs	570	0.13%	$41,500
168	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	570	0.13%	$38,300
169	Machine Feeders and Offbearers	550	0.13%	$36,410
170	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers	540	0.12%	$40,000
171	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents	540	0.12%	$66,020
172	Training and Development Specialists	530	0.12%	$56,920
173	Gaming Change Persons and Booth Cashiers	530	0.12%	$25,700
174	Librarians and Media Collections Specialists	520	0.12%	$42,650
175	Surgical Technologists	520	0.12%	$48,900
176	Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters	520	0.12%	$37,130
177	Conveyor Operators and Tenders	520	0.12%	$34,520
178	Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants	510	0.12%	$29,120
179	Paralegals and Legal Assistants	500	0.11%	$54,100
180	Postsecondary Teaching Assistants	500	0.11%	$28,950
181	Graphic Designers	500	0.11%	$39,470
182	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan	500	0.11%	$32,930
183	Sales Managers	490	0.11%	$135,140
184	Advertising Sales Agents	480	0.11%	$46,370
185	Engine and Other Machine Assemblers	480	0.11%	$40,920
186	Secondary School Special Education Teachers	470	0.11%	$49,220
187	Firefighters	470	0.11%	$47,520
188	Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop	470	0.11%	$26,540
189	Chief Executives	460	0.11%	$182,540
190	Civil Engineering Technicians	460	0.11%	$50,660
191	Instructional Coordinators	460	0.11%	$59,350
192	Other Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers	460	0.11%	$46,030
193	Printing Press Operators	460	0.11%	$35,990
194	Agricultural Technicians	450	0.10%	$37,830
195	Family Medicine Physicians	450	0.10%	$217,500
196	Real Estate Sales Agents	450	0.10%	$77,560
197	Construction Managers	440	0.10%	$101,450
198	Property Appraisers and Assessors	440	0.10%	$50,150
199	Library Technicians	440	0.10%	$28,670
200	Personal Financial Advisors	430	0.10%	$119,080

Also see The top paying jobs in South Dakota.

Most popular jobs in major cities/areas of South Dakota

Rapid City	Western South Dakota nonmetropolitan area
Eastern South Dakota nonmetropolitan area	Central South Dakota nonmetropolitan area
Sioux Falls	Sioux City