"How long does it take to become an esthetician in South Dakota?"

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

"Do estheticians need a license in South Dakota?"

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

"What apprenticeships are available for estheticians 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 An Esthetician in South Dakota

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 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.

Quick Answers About Becoming An Esthetician in South Dakota

How do I become an esthetician in South Dakota? South Dakota requires credentials such as Esthetician. 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 estheticians. The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

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.

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): $38,230 per year ¹

Esthetician License Requirements in South Dakota

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

License Types

License	Requirements
Esthetician	Any person who, for compensation, provides skincare treatments to face and body to enhance an individual’s appearance.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Esthetician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Skincare Specialists Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 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 2025.

Top Metros for Estheticians in South Dakota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest esthetician 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	90	$31,580
Rapid City	30	$38,580

Explore esthetician programs in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

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? 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 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.

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)