How to Become a Legal Secretary in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do legal secretaries earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), legal secretaries in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,790. Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 1.21 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for legal secretaries in South Dakota?

South Dakota currently employs approximately 560 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -5.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota legal secretaries and administrative assistants earn a median annual wage of $47,790 ($22.98/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 560 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -14.0% below the national median of $55,570 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,790 ($22.98/hr)
25th percentile: $42,790 per year
75th percentile: $51,010 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $58,300 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,540 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 560
Versus national median: -14.0% below the U.S. median of $55,570
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.21 - this occupation is more concentrated in South Dakota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

South Dakota employs about 560 legal secretaries earning a median $47,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most legal secretaries train through an approved program before entering the field in South Dakota.

South Dakota employs approximately 560 legal secretaries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,790 ¹. The state’s concentration of legal secretary jobs is 1.21x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, legal secretary employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 19,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Legal Secretary in South Dakota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (South Dakota): $47,790 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Legal Secretary in South Dakota

How to become a Legal Secretary in South Dakota? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for legal secretaries in South Dakota.

How long does it take? legal secretary training length in South Dakota varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do legal secretaries earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for legal secretaries in South Dakota is $47,790 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,540 and experienced professionals can earn $58,300 or more ¹.

How to Become a Legal Secretary in South Dakota

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most South Dakota training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved legal secretary program in South Dakota that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to legal secretaries in South Dakota before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Legal Secretary Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), legal secretaries and administrative assistants 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	120	$48,290	$52,060	$41,160	$64,780
Rapid City	110	$48,250	$48,660	$39,270	$58,300
Sioux City	80	$46,240	$46,690	$37,390	$59,860

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 legal secretaries in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 560 legal secretaries ¹. Nationally, legal secretary employment is projected to grow -5.8% 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 legal secretaries earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for legal secretaries in South Dakota is $47,790, which is $6,350 below the national median of $54,140 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

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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)