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

"Most paths into the hvac technician 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 hvac technicians 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 HVAC Technician in South Dakota

Q: "How much do hvac technicians earn in South Dakota?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), hvac technicians in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $61,390. Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 1.34 times the national average for this occupation."

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

"South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,610 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Q: "What is the federal prevailing wage for hvac technicians in South Dakota?"

"Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians on federally funded construction projects in South Dakota earn a prevailing wage of approximately $20.41 per hour in base pay plus $9.64 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $30.05 (Source: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026)."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers earn a median annual wage of $61,390 ($29.51/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,610 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.6% above the national median of $61,010 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $61,390 ($29.51/hr)
25th percentile: $51,480 per year
75th percentile: $65,940 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,190 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,420 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 1,610
Versus national median: 0.6% above the U.S. median of $61,010
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.34 - this occupation is more 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 1,610 hvac technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $61,390 ¹. The state’s concentration of hvac technician jobs is 1.34x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 40,100 openings per year ². This page covers how to become an hvac technician in South Dakota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming An HVAC Technician in South Dakota

How do I become an hvac technician in South Dakota? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for hvac technicians 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 hvac technicians earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in South Dakota is $61,390 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,420 and experienced professionals can earn $75,190 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): $61,390 per year ¹

HVAC Technician Apprenticeship Information in South Dakota

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. South Dakota’s apprenticeship program is administered by the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: StartTodaySD Apprenticeship Program
Address: 123 West Missouri Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 910-7031
Email: [email protected]

HVAC Technician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers 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	600	$62,440	$63,050	$48,990	$76,070
Rapid City	360	$61,430	$61,160	$48,010	$74,280
Sioux City	200	$59,840	$61,880	$39,330	$81,880

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 Hvac technicians in South Dakota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest hvac technician 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	600	$62,440
Rapid City	360	$61,430

Explore hvac technician programs in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Federal Prevailing Wage in South Dakota

Under the Davis-Bacon Act, hvac technicians working on federally funded construction projects in South Dakota earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent South Dakota general wage determinations show approximately $20.41 per hour in base pay plus $9.64 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $30.05 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) ⁴.

Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within hvac technician work.

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for hvac technicians in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,610 hvac technicians ¹. Nationally, hvac technician employment is projected to grow 8.1% 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. You can also contact the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do hvac technicians earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for hvac technicians in South Dakota is $61,390, which is $1,580 above the national median of $59,810 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 Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎

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)