How long does medical coder training take in South Dakota?

Most people become a Medical Coder in South Dakota through a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Do medical coders need a license in South Dakota?

No statewide license is required for medical coders in South Dakota. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

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

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

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical coders in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $51,610 (using the related "Medical Records Specialists" BLS category, since medical coder wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 1.57 times the national average for this occupation.

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

South Dakota currently employs approximately 900 workers in the related "Medical Records Specialists" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota medical records specialists earn a median annual wage of $51,610 ($24.81/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 900 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 0.9% above the national median of $51,140 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $51,610 ($24.81/hr)
25th percentile: $44,860 per year
75th percentile: $63,130 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $76,950 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $36,920 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 900
Versus national median: 0.9% above the U.S. median of $51,140
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.57 - 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 900 medical coders earning a median $51,610 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Medical Records Specialists”). Training as a Medical Coder here means completing a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles.

Compare Medical Coder 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. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. 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 (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Mitchell Technical College	78.9	$7,524	$54,865	76%	Yes*	71 mi
2	Northwest Iowa Community College	72.4	$7,350 in-state / $7,650 out-of-state	$60,885	58%	Yes*	184 mi
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3	Northeast Community College	71.4	$3,840 in-state / $5,130 out-of-state	$49,390	56%	Yes*	170 mi
4	Southeast Technical College	69.7	$7,650	$53,289	59%	Yes*	131 mi
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5	Western Dakota Technical College	60.4	$8,294	$49,930	54%	Yes*	192 mi
6	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491	$52,390	52%	Yes*	192 mi
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7	Western Iowa Tech Community College	57.6	$5,186 in-state / $5,330 out-of-state	$47,713	50%	Yes*	186 mi
8	California Intercontinental University	Not rated	Contact school for pricing	$115,220	Not reported	Yes*	134 mi
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9	Sitting Bull College	53.9	$4,010	$39,240	22%	Yes*	154 mi
10	Oglala Lakota College	26.0	$2,684	$52,386	9%	—	150 mi
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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.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, South Dakota employs approximately 900 workers in the related “Medical Records Specialists” category (SOC 29-2072), with a median annual wage of $51,610 ¹. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.57x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 7.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,200 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Medical Coder in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track medical coder salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Medical Records Specialists (SOC 29-2072). Actual medical coder earnings may vary.

At a Glance

Training paths: medical billing, coding, or health-information program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles
Exam: CPC, CCS, or RHIT
Median wage (South Dakota): $51,610 per year (based on related “Medical Records Specialists” category) ¹

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

How to become a Medical Coder in South Dakota? Complete a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short coding or health-information program plus CPC, CCS, or RHIT; most states do not license these roles. 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 CPC, CCS, or RHIT. See the licensing section below.

What do medical coders earn in South Dakota? The BLS does not track medical coder wages separately. Based on the related “Medical Records Specialists” category, the median annual wage in South Dakota is $51,610, with entry-level wages around $36,920 and experienced workers earning $76,950 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Coder in South Dakota

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a billing, coding, or HIT program. Finish a certificate or associate program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT. Pass AAPC CPC, AHIMA CCS, or RHIT depending on the role. Employers typically require a named credential.
No statewide license in most states. Do not invent a licensing board for billers and coders.

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

Medical Coder License Requirements in South Dakota

Most states do not license medical billers, coders, or health-information technicians. Employers expect CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

Typical path

Complete a program.
Earn CPC, CCS, or RHIT.

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

Medical Coder Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Medical Records Specialists Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical records specialists 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	430	$51,610	$55,010	$33,900	$80,080
Rapid City	100	$52,140	$55,000	$35,720	$77,730
Sioux City	80	$46,130	$49,490	$37,240	$62,090

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 coders in South Dakota? South Dakota employs approximately 900 workers in the related “Medical Records Specialists” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 7.1% 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 coders earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical coders in South Dakota is $51,610 (based on the related “Medical Records Specialists” category), which is $1,360 above the national median of $50,250 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

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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)