How to Become an Esthetician in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How long does esthetician training take in South Dakota?

Most people become an Esthetician in South Dakota through a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state's hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license.

Q: How much do estheticians earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), estheticians in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $38,230. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.71 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

South Dakota currently employs approximately 150 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota skincare specialists earn a median annual wage of $38,230 ($18.38/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 150 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -15.7% below the national median of $45,330 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $38,230 ($18.38/hr)
25th percentile: $29,000 per year
75th percentile: $46,110 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $52,350 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $24,450 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 150
Versus national median: -15.7% below the U.S. median of $45,330
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.71 - 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 150 estheticians earning a median $38,230 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an Esthetician here means completing a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Esthetician 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	Ridgewater College	68.7	$6,121	$49,859	50%	Yes*	221 mi
2	Minnesota State Community and Technical College	64.5	$5,908	$54,581	47%	Yes*	219 mi
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3	Capitol Beauty School	64.5	Contact school for pricing	$28,970	87%	—	258 mi
4	Stewart School	62.1	Contact school for pricing	$35,397	88%	—	133 mi
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5	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491	$52,390	52%	Yes*	192 mi
6	Faust Institute of Cosmetology-Spirit Lake	53.7	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	92%	—	215 mi
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7	Paul Mitchell the School-Rapid City	52.9	Contact school for pricing	$28,685	88%	—	194 mi
8	Xenon A Stephanie Moss Academy	52.2	Contact school for pricing	Not reported	82%	—	259 mi
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9	The Salon Professional Academy-Fargo	50.5	Contact school for pricing	$36,100	60%	—	226 mi
10	The Salon Professional Academy	45.4	Contact school for pricing	$35,007	79%	—	193 mi
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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 150 estheticians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $38,230 ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an Esthetician in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: board-approved esthetics program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license
Exam: state written and practical exams (often NIC)
Median wage (South Dakota): $38,230 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become an Esthetician in South Dakota

How to become an Esthetician in South Dakota? Complete a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a board-approved esthetics program that meets this state’s hour requirement, written and practical exams, and an esthetician license. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do estheticians earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for estheticians in South Dakota is $38,230 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $24,450 and experienced professionals can earn $52,350 or more ¹.

How to Become an Esthetician in South Dakota

Meet board entry rules. Confirm age and education rules with the employer.
Complete a board-approved esthetics program. Finish the esthetics hour requirement the employer publishes. Confirm the current total with that board; do not copy another state’s hours. This is not a DAS registered apprenticeship.
Pass written and practical exams. Pass the exams the employer uses for estheticians, not the full cosmetology practitioner exam unless you want that license.
Apply for the esthetician license. Apply to the employer before taking paying skincare clients.

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

Esthetician License Requirements in South Dakota

Estheticians in South Dakota complete board-approved esthetics hours, pass exams, and apply to the employer. Do not treat a cosmetology instructor row as the esthetician license.

Typical path

Meet board entry rules.
Complete a board-approved esthetics program.
Pass written and practical exams.
Apply to the employer.

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

Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), skincare specialists 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	90	$31,580	$34,460	$24,450	$48,310
Rapid City	30	$38,580	$38,760	$24,020	$54,850

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 estheticians in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 150 estheticians ¹. Nationally, esthetician employment is projected to grow 6.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as an esthetician in South Dakota with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

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 estheticians earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for estheticians in South Dakota is $38,230, which is $3,330 below the national median of $41,560 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

Top local programs

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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)