What apprenticeships are available for construction trades workers 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 Construction Trades Worker in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do construction trades workers earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction trades workers in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,710. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.55 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction trades workers in South Dakota?

South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,780 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.3% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota construction laborers earn a median annual wage of $45,710 ($21.98/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,780 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -3.0% below the national median of $47,120 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $45,710 ($21.98/hr)
25th percentile: $38,300 per year
75th percentile: $48,120 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $52,350 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,180 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 1,780
Versus national median: -3.0% below the U.S. median of $47,120
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.55 - 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 about 1,780 construction trades workers earning a median $45,710 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction trades workers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in South Dakota.

Compare Construction Trades Worker Schools in South Dakota

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Mitchell Technical College	78.9	$7,524	$54,865	76%	Yes*	71 mi
2	Lake Area Technical College	74.7	$6,718	$49,488	73%	Yes*	123 mi
Sponsored Ad
3	North Dakota State College of Science	72.6	$5,974 in-state / $6,973 out-of-state	$60,587	55%	Yes*	200 mi
4	Northwest Iowa Community College	72.4	$7,350 in-state / $7,650 out-of-state	$60,885	58%	Yes*	184 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	Southeast Technical College	69.7	$7,650	$53,289	59%	Yes*	131 mi
6	Western Dakota Technical College	60.4	$8,294	$49,930	54%	Yes*	192 mi
Sponsored Ad
7	Sitting Bull College	53.9	$4,010	$39,240	22%	Yes*	154 mi
8	United Tribes Technical College	45.6	$4,632	$34,923	21%	Yes*	198 mi
Sponsored Ad
9	Sinte Gleska University	30.0	$4,714	$51,797	15%	Yes*	85 mi
10	Sisseton Wahpeton College	26.5	$4,330	Not reported	21%	—	156 mi
Sponsored Ad

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

South Dakota employs approximately 1,780 construction trades workers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,710 ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 129,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Construction Trades Worker in South Dakota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

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): $45,710 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in South Dakota

How to become a Construction Trades Worker in South Dakota? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction trades workers in South Dakota.

How long does it take? Most paths into the construction trades worker field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction trades workers earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in South Dakota is $45,710 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,180 and experienced professionals can earn $52,350 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Trades Worker in South Dakota

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most South Dakota training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in South Dakota that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction trades workers in South Dakota before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Construction Trades Worker 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]

Construction Trades Worker Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Construction Laborers Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction laborers 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	700	$46,850	$45,410	$36,470	$57,680
Sioux City	560	$48,630	$53,010	$37,980	$74,390
Rapid City	410	$45,630	$44,210	$35,830	$51,120

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 construction trades workers in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,780 construction trades workers ¹. Nationally, construction trades worker employment is projected to grow 7.3% 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 programs in South Dakota. You can also contact the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do construction trades workers earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction trades workers in South Dakota is $45,710, which is $1,020 below the national median of $46,730 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

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/ ↩︎

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)