Do auto body repair technicians need a license in South Dakota?

No statewide license is required for auto body repair technicians in South Dakota. Most employers expect industry certifications such as ASE or OEM certification.

How to Become an Auto Body Repair Technician in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How long does auto body repair technician training take in South Dakota?

Most people become an Auto Body Repair Technician in South Dakota through a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship.

Q: How much do auto body repair technicians earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), auto body repair technicians in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,460. Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 1.82 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for auto body repair technicians in South Dakota?

South Dakota currently employs approximately 800 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota automotive body and related repairers earn a median annual wage of $49,460 ($23.78/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 800 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -9.9% below the national median of $54,890 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $49,460 ($23.78/hr)
25th percentile: $46,810 per year
75th percentile: $61,560 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $74,110 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,180 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 800
Versus national median: -9.9% below the U.S. median of $54,890
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.82 - this occupation is more concentrated in South Dakota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

South Dakota employs about 800 auto body repair technicians earning a median $49,460 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Auto Body Repair Technician here means completing a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship.

South Dakota employs approximately 800 auto body repair technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,460 ¹. The state’s concentration of auto body repair technician jobs is 1.82x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, auto body repair technician employment is projected to grow 1.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Auto Body Repair Technician in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade-school or community-college program in the specialty (find programs)
Typical timeline: a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship
Exam: ASE or OEM certification
Median wage (South Dakota): $49,460 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Auto Body Repair Technician in South Dakota

How to become an Auto Body Repair Technician in South Dakota? Complete a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a postsecondary automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program plus ASE or OEM credentials. This is not a default RAPIDS apprenticeship. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect ASE or OEM certification. See the licensing section below.

What do auto body repair technicians earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for auto body repair technicians in South Dakota is $49,460 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,180 and experienced professionals can earn $74,110 or more ¹.

How to Become an Auto Body Repair Technician in South Dakota

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a specialty program. Finish an automotive, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision program. Some union shops use apprenticeships; the default national path is a certificate plus ASE, not DAS as the only option.
Earn ASE or OEM credentials. Pass ASE tests or OEM training the employer requires. Some states add a separate smog or emissions credential; it is not the whole mechanic license.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Auto Body Repair Technician License Requirements in South Dakota

Most states do not license auto, diesel, motorcycle, marine, or collision techs as a statewide journeyman card. Employers expect ASE or OEM credentials. Some states add a smog or emissions credential.

Typical path

Complete a specialty program.
Earn ASE or OEM credentials.
Add a state smog or emissions credential only if that state and the job require one.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Auto Body Repair Technician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Automotive Body and Related Repairers Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), automotive body and related repairers 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 Falls	240	$50,310	$58,660	$45,590	$80,100
Rapid City	160	$47,750	$54,230	$38,940	$74,470
Sioux City	100	$48,400	$55,500	$40,090	$77,020

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for auto body repair technicians in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 800 auto body repair technicians ¹. Nationally, auto body repair technician employment is projected to grow 1.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in South Dakota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in South Dakota.

How much do auto body repair technicians earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for auto body repair technicians in South Dakota is $49,460, which is $2,220 below the national median of $51,680 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)