How long does graphic designer training take in South Dakota?

Most people become a Graphic Designer in South Dakota through a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role.

Do graphic designers need a license in South Dakota?

No statewide license is required for graphic designers in South Dakota. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Graphic Designer in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do graphic designers earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), graphic designers in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $48,390. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.81 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

South Dakota currently employs approximately 470 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota employs about 470 graphic designers earning a median $48,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Graphic Designer here means completing a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role.

Compare Graphic Designer 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	Northeast Community College	71.4	$3,840 in-state / $5,130 out-of-state	$49,390	56%	Yes*	170 mi
2	Southeast Technical College	69.7	$7,650	$53,289	59%	Yes*	131 mi
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3	Sinte Gleska University	30.0	$4,714	$51,797	15%	Yes*	85 mi
4	Sisseton Wahpeton College	26.5	$4,330	Not reported	21%	—	156 mi
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5	Oglala Lakota College	26.0	$2,684	$52,386	9%	—	150 mi

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 470 graphic designers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $48,390 ¹. Nationally, graphic designer employment is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 20,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Graphic Designer in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: short course, certificate, or self-directed portfolio work (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role
Median wage (South Dakota): $48,390 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Graphic Designer in South Dakota

How to become a Graphic Designer in South Dakota? Complete a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short course or certificate plus a portfolio; most states do not license this role. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the South Dakota path.

What do graphic designers earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for graphic designers in South Dakota is $48,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,290 and experienced professionals can earn $66,620 or more ¹.

How to Become a Graphic Designer in South Dakota

Build skills and a portfolio. Complete a short course or certificate if you want structured training, then assemble a portfolio. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Optional industry credentials. Tool or association credentials can help hiring. They are not a state occupational license.
Most states do not license this role. Do not apply to a licensing board. Confirm employer expectations, not a state credential that does not exist.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Graphic Designer License Requirements in South Dakota

Most states do not license this role. The path is a portfolio and a short course or certificate, not a licensing board.

Typical path

Build skills through a short course, certificate, or OJT.
Assemble a portfolio.
Do not apply to a licensing board for this role.

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

Graphic Designer Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Graphic Designers Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), graphic designers 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	200	$50,030	$51,900	$36,900	$65,750
Rapid City	80	$49,990	$53,760	$36,900	$77,790
Sioux City	60	$47,270	$53,480	$37,370	$76,480

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 graphic designers in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 470 graphic designers ¹. Nationally, graphic designer employment is projected to grow 2.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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 graphic designers earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for graphic designers in South Dakota is $48,390, which is $12,910 below the national median of $61,300 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎

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)