Police and Public Safety Administration Degree Programs in South Dakota (2026)
Quick answer: South Dakota employs about 190 police and detective supervisors (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state peace officer standards and training commission. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Compare police and public safety administration programs enrolling now:
Licensing and Credentials in South Dakota
Sworn officers are certified by a state peace-officer standards and training commission, not by a degree, and promotion to sergeant or above is governed by the employing agency’s own process. What a degree does here is satisfy the educational requirement many agencies attach to command ranks and to federal law enforcement hiring. Requirements differ agency by agency as well as state by state.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state peace officer standards and training commission that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
We do not have campus-based schools on record for this exact area right now. School availability changes as programs open and close, and many programs in this field enroll online - see the main program page for options that are not tied to your location. Know a school we missed? Tell us.
What First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Earn in South Dakota
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in South Dakota earn a median $87,810 per year, below the national median of $106,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Police and Public Safety Administration Pay and Employment in South Dakota at a Glance
| Metric | South Dakota | National | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $87,810 | $106,040 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 10th percentile | $71,650 | $63,350 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 25th percentile | $75,370 | $81,860 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 75th percentile | $119,170 | $132,620 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| 90th percentile | $140,500 | $165,110 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Employment | 190 | 154,610 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Location quotient | 0.42 | 1.00 | BLS OEWS, May 2025 |
| Projected change (2024-34) | not published by state | 2.9% | BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34 |
How South Dakota Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The South Dakota median of $87,810 sits below the national median of $106,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.42 puts South Dakota below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Where the Jobs Are in South Dakota
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $122,240 | 30 |
| Rapid City | $104,480 | 40 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Command positions exist where the agencies are. Metro population, the number of municipal departments and the presence of state or federal offices all drive demand.
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), first-line supervisors of police and detectives wages in South Dakota vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City | 70 | $105,000 | $101,700 | $76,320 | $126,470 |
| Rapid City | 40 | $104,480 | $108,510 | $78,820 | $132,430 |
| Sioux Falls | 30 | $122,240 | $125,740 | $80,090 | $176,400 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do police and detective supervisors make in South Dakota?
The median annual wage for police and detective supervisors in South Dakota is $87,810, below the national median of $106,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $75,370 at the 25th percentile to $119,170 at the 75th.
How many police and detective supervisors work in South Dakota?
South Dakota holds about 190 police supervisor jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 154,610, and BLS projects about 10,900 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a police supervisor in South Dakota?
Sworn officers are certified by a state peace-officer standards and training commission, not by a degree, and promotion to sergeant or above is governed by the employing agency's own process. What a degree does here is satisfy the educational requirement many agencies attach to command ranks and to federal law enforcement hiring. Requirements differ agency by agency as well as state by state. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state peace officer standards and training commission before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a criminal justice and law enforcement administration degree online while working in South Dakota?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state peace officer standards and training commission.
What is the highest-paying area of South Dakota for police and detective supervisors?
Among South Dakota metro areas with published data, Sioux Falls reports the highest median at $122,240 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is South Dakota a good state for police and detective supervisors?
On pay, the state median of $87,810 sits below the national $106,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.42 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
Related Guides
- Police and Public Safety Administration programs and how to choose one - the national guide to this degree
- Firefighter career profile - the trade career this degree path builds on
- All online degree paths for tradespeople
- Trade careers that require a 4-year degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives (SOC 33-1012), national, state and metropolitan estimates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.