How long does medical office administrator training take in South Dakota?

Most people become a Medical Office Administrator in South Dakota through a short medical-office or administrative certificate; most states do not license this role.

Do medical office administrators need a license in South Dakota?

No statewide license is required for medical office administrators in South Dakota. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Medical Office Administrator in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do medical office administrators earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical office administrators in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,810. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.03 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

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

South Dakota currently employs approximately 80 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota medical secretaries and administrative assistants earn a median annual wage of $45,810 ($22.03/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 80 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -0.3% below the national median of $45,930 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $45,810 ($22.03/hr)
25th percentile: $43,970 per year
75th percentile: $47,890 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $53,120 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $39,270 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 80
Versus national median: -0.3% below the U.S. median of $45,930
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.03 - 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 80 medical office administrators earning a median $45,810 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Medical Office Administrator here means completing a short medical-office or administrative certificate; most states do not license this role.

Key Facts

Median wage (South Dakota): $45,810/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in South Dakota: 80 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 0.03x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 4.2% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Medical Office Administrator 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	Bismarck State College	76.6	Contact school for pricing	$65,276	Not reported	Yes*	203 mi
2	Rasmussen University-North Dakota	70.8	Contact school for pricing	$59,996	Not reported	Yes*	229 mi
3	Ridgewater College	68.7	Contact school for pricing	$49,859	48%	Yes*	221 mi
4	Minnesota State Community and Technical College	64.5	$5,908 - $17,194	$54,581	47%	Yes*	219 mi
5	Rasmussen University-Minnesota	59.9	Contact school for pricing	$59,996	53%	Yes*	270 mi
6	Western Nebraska Community College	59.9	Contact school for pricing	$50,624	36%	Yes*	267 mi
7	Iowa Lakes Community College	59.8	Contact school for pricing	$47,158	Not reported	Yes*	228 mi
8	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491 - $17,408	$52,390	49%	Yes*	192 mi
9	Western Iowa Tech Community College	57.6	Contact school for pricing	$47,713	44%	Yes*	186 mi
10	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 80 medical office administrators according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,810 ¹. Nationally, medical office administrator employment is projected to grow 4.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 85,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Medical Office Administrator in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: medical office administration certificate or short course (find programs)
Typical timeline: a short medical-office or administrative certificate; most states do not license this role
Median wage (South Dakota): $45,810 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Office Administrator in South Dakota

How to become a Medical Office Administrator in South Dakota? Complete a short medical-office or administrative certificate; most states do not license this role. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short medical-office or administrative certificate; most states do not license this role. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the South Dakota path.

What do medical office administrators earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for medical office administrators in South Dakota is $45,810 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,270 and experienced professionals can earn $53,120 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Office Administrator in South Dakota

Complete a short medical-office program. Finish a certificate or short course in medical office administration or train on the job. This is not a registered apprenticeship and not a health-information technician degree.
Build office skills. Employers look for scheduling, EHR, insurance, and front-desk skills. Optional administrative credentials can help hiring.
Most states do not license this role. Do not apply to a licensing board. Do not treat health-information technician, RHIT, or nursing licenses as the medical-office path.

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

Medical Office Administrator License Requirements in South Dakota

Most states do not license medical office administrators. Employers expect a short certificate or on-the-job training, not a statewide occupational license.

Typical path

Complete a short medical-office program or OJT.
Optional administrative credentials.
Do not apply to a licensing board for this role.

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

Medical Office Administrator Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

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

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical 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 City	400	$41,890	$42,490	$36,170	$48,720
Sioux Falls	50	$45,390	$45,810	$38,230	$49,270

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 office administrators in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 80 medical office administrators ¹. Nationally, medical office administrator employment is projected to grow 4.2% 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 office administrators earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical office administrators in South Dakota is $45,810, which is $1,170 above the national median of $44,640 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)