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

"Most paths into the gunsmith 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 gunsmiths 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 Gunsmith in South Dakota

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

"The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034. State employment data for South Dakota is not separately published for this occupation."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota offers career opportunities for gunsmiths. This page covers how to become a gunsmith in South Dakota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Gunsmith in South Dakota

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

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path

Gunsmith Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for gunsmiths in South Dakota? Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.0% from 2024 to 2034 ¹.

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.

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 - 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)