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

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

"What apprenticeships are available for carpenters 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 Carpenter in South Dakota

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

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), carpenters in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,140. Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 2.32 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"South Dakota currently employs approximately 4,560 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Q: "What is the federal prevailing wage for carpenters in South Dakota?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters on federally funded construction projects in South Dakota earn a prevailing wage of approximately $15.96 per hour in base pay plus $4.15 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $20.11 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota carpenters earn a median annual wage of $48,140 ($23.14/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 4,560 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -20.5% below the national median of $60,580 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,140 ($23.14/hr)
25th percentile: $42,190 per year
75th percentile: $60,060 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $65,890 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,720 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 4,560
Versus national median: -20.5% below the U.S. median of $60,580
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.32 - this occupation is more 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 4,560 carpenters according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,140 ¹. The state’s concentration of carpenter jobs is 2.32x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 74,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a carpenter in South Dakota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Carpenter in South Dakota

How do I become a carpenter in South Dakota? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for carpenters in South Dakota.

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.

What do carpenters earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for carpenters in South Dakota is $48,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,720 and experienced professionals can earn $65,890 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (South Dakota): $48,140 per year ¹

Carpenter Apprenticeship Information in South Dakota

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. South Dakota’s apprenticeship program is administered by the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: StartTodaySD Apprenticeship Program
Address: 123 West Missouri Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 910-7031
Email: [email protected]

Carpenter Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Carpenters Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), carpenters 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	1,640	$49,410	$52,940	$39,090	$67,530
Rapid City	870	$48,640	$51,940	$37,750	$63,400
Sioux City	350	$51,100	$53,480	$35,730	$71,740

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 Carpenters in South Dakota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest carpenter 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	1,640	$49,410
Rapid City	870	$48,640

Explore carpenter programs in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Federal Prevailing Wage in South Dakota

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, carpenters working on federally funded construction projects in South Dakota earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent South Dakota general wage determinations show approximately $15.96 per hour in base pay plus $4.15 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $20.11 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁴.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within carpenter work.

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for carpenters in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 4,560 carpenters ¹. Nationally, carpenter employment is projected to grow 4.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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. You can also contact the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do carpenters earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for carpenters in South Dakota is $48,140, which is $11,170 below the national median of $59,310 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 Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

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)