Do medical assistants need a license in South Dakota?

No statewide license is required for medical assistants in South Dakota. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT).

How to Become a Medical Assistant in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How long does medical assistant training take in South Dakota?

Most people become a Medical Assistant in South Dakota through a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants.

Q: How much do medical assistants earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical assistants in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $41,870. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.56 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for medical assistants in South Dakota?

South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,340 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota medical assistants earn a median annual wage of $41,870 ($20.13/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,340 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -8.4% below the national median of $45,690 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $41,870 ($20.13/hr)
25th percentile: $37,730 per year
75th percentile: $45,870 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $48,960 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,980 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 1,340
Versus national median: -8.4% below the U.S. median of $45,690
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.56 - this occupation is less 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 about 1,340 medical assistants earning a median $41,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Medical Assistant here means completing a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants.

Key Facts

Median wage (South Dakota): $41,870/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in South Dakota: 1,340 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.56x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 12.5% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Medical Assistant 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. 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	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Mitchell Technical College	78.9	Contact school for pricing	$54,865	74%	Yes*	71 mi
2	Lake Area Technical College	74.7	Contact school for pricing	$49,488	69%	Yes*	123 mi
3	Northeast Community College	71.4	Contact school for pricing	$49,390	56%	Yes*	170 mi
4	Southeast Technical College	69.7	$7,650 - $20,272	$53,289	56%	Yes*	131 mi
5	Sinte Gleska University	30.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,797	6%	Yes*	85 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 1,340 medical assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $41,870 ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 112,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Medical Assistant in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: medical assisting certificate or diploma program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants
Exam: CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT)
Median wage (South Dakota): $41,870 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Assistant in South Dakota

How to become a Medical Assistant in South Dakota? Complete a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). See the licensing section below.

What do medical assistants earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for medical assistants in South Dakota is $41,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,980 and experienced professionals can earn $48,960 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in South Dakota

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a medical assisting program. Finish a certificate or diploma program in South Dakota, often under a year. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CMA or RMA. Pass CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). Employers typically require one of these.
Confirm any state delegation rules. Most states do not license medical assistants. Scope is set by the delegating provider and state medical-board rules.

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

Medical Assistant License Requirements in South Dakota

Most states do not license medical assistants. Employers expect CMA or RMA after a short program.

Typical path

Complete a medical assisting program.
Earn CMA or RMA.

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

Medical Assistant Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical 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	620	$43,760	$43,390	$36,700	$49,540
Sioux City	280	$45,650	$44,700	$36,760	$54,700
Rapid City	240	$40,690	$41,390	$36,190	$47,920

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 medical assistants in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 1,340 medical assistants ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% 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 medical assistants earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical assistants in South Dakota is $41,870, which is $2,330 below the national median of $44,200 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)