"How long does it take to become a cosmetologist in South Dakota?"

"Most paths into the cosmetologist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do cosmetologists need a license in South Dakota?"

"Yes. South Dakota requires state-level licensing or registration for cosmetologists, administered by the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for cosmetologists in South Dakota?"

"In South Dakota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Cosmetologist in South Dakota

Q: "How much do cosmetologists earn in South Dakota?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cosmetologists in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,800. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.77 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in South Dakota?"

"South Dakota currently employs approximately 690 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists earn a median annual wage of $49,800 ($23.94/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 690 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 39.1% above the national median of $35,790 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $49,800 ($23.94/hr)
25th percentile: $42,870 per year
75th percentile: $56,200 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $61,900 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $32,090 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 690
Versus national median: 39.1% above the U.S. median of $35,790
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.77 - this occupation is less concentrated in South Dakota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

South Dakota employs approximately 690 cosmetologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,800 ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 75,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a cosmetologist in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Cosmetologist in South Dakota

How do I become a cosmetologist in South Dakota? South Dakota requires credentials such as Cosmetologist. The licensing authority is the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? Yes. South Dakota has licensing or registration requirements for cosmetologists. The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cosmetologists earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in South Dakota is $49,800 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $32,090 and experienced professionals can earn $61,900 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: South Dakota Cosmetology Commission
Median wage (South Dakota): $49,800 per year ¹

Cosmetologist License Requirements in South Dakota

The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission oversees cosmetologist licensing in South Dakota ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Cosmetologist	A person is engaged in the practice of cosmetology if that person, for compensation, a fee, or any valuable consideration, engages in providing beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring,…

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Cosmetologist Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists 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	320	$50,500	$49,300	$32,940	$60,290
Rapid City	170	$48,440	$47,790	$24,010	$61,900
Sioux City	100	$30,330	$33,870	$23,330	$48,450

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 2025.

Top Metros for Cosmetologists in South Dakota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest cosmetologist employment within South Dakota according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Sioux Falls	320	$50,500
Rapid City	170	$48,440

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cosmetologists in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 690 cosmetologists ¹. Nationally, cosmetologist employment is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cosmetologist in South Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cosmetologists earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cosmetologists in South Dakota is $49,800, which is $14,550 above the national median of $35,250 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
South Dakota Cosmetology Commission - Licensing Information: http://dlr.sd.gov/cosmetology/default.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)