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

"Most paths into the graphic designer 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 graphic designers 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 Graphic Designer in South Dakota

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 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 requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Graphic Designer in South Dakota

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

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): $48,390 per year ¹

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 (2025 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 2025.

Top Metros for Graphic designers in South Dakota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest graphic designer 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	200	$50,030
Rapid City	80	$49,990

Explore graphic designer programs in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

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 apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited 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.

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)