How to Become a Pastry Chef in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do pastry chefs earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pastry chefs in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $38,340 (using the related "Bakers" BLS category, since pastry chef wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.47 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for pastry chefs in South Dakota?

South Dakota currently employs approximately 330 workers in the related "Bakers" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.6% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota chefs and head cooks earn a median annual wage of $48,470 ($23.30/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 300 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -22.4% below the national median of $62,470 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $48,470 ($23.30/hr)
25th percentile: $39,650 per year
75th percentile: $51,870 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $57,820 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $37,450 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 300
Versus national median: -22.4% below the U.S. median of $62,470
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.51 - this occupation is less 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 330 pastry chefs earning a median $38,340 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Bakers”). Most pastry chefs train through an approved program before entering the field in South Dakota.

Compare Pastry Chef 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	North Dakota State College of Science	72.6	$5,974 in-state / $6,973 out-of-state	$60,587	55%	Yes*	200 mi
3	Minnesota State Community and Technical College	64.5	$5,908	$54,581	47%	Yes*	219 mi
4	St Cloud Technical and Community College	63.7	$6,124	$58,691	45%	Yes*	272 mi
5	Central Lakes College-Brainerd	60.4	$6,249	$50,357	53%	Yes*	294 mi
6	South Central College	60.0	$6,146	$52,003	39%	Yes*	261 mi
7	Western Iowa Tech Community College	57.6	$5,186 in-state / $5,330 out-of-state	$47,713	50%	Yes*	186 mi
8	Southeast Community College Area	55.6	$3,690 in-state / $4,320 out-of-state	$54,277	38%	Yes*	264 mi
9	Iowa Central Community College	54.0	$5,496 in-state / $7,788 out-of-state	$46,682	42%	Yes*	280 mi
10	Iowa Western Community College	48.3	$6,930 in-state / $7,080 out-of-state	$51,139	40%	Yes*	264 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.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, South Dakota employs approximately 330 workers in the related “Bakers” category (SOC 51-3011), with a median annual wage of $38,340 ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 5.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 39,900 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Pastry Chef in South Dakota, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track pastry chef salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Bakers (SOC 51-3011). Actual pastry chef earnings may vary.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (South Dakota): $38,340 per year (based on related “Bakers” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pastry Chef in South Dakota

How to become a Pastry Chef in South Dakota? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for pastry chefs in South Dakota.

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

What do pastry chefs earn in South Dakota? The BLS does not track pastry chef wages separately. Based on the related “Bakers” category, the median annual wage in South Dakota is $38,340, with entry-level wages around $28,880 and experienced workers earning $50,360 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pastry Chef 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 pastry chef 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 pastry chefs 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.

Pastry Chef Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Chefs and Head Cooks Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), chefs and head cooks 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	960	$39,379	$39,774	$31,054	$48,529
Sioux City	760	$36,503	$37,327	$28,841	$48,242
Rapid City	500	$37,581	$38,107	$30,929	$46,269

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 pastry chefs in South Dakota? South Dakota employs approximately 330 workers in the related “Bakers” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 5.6% 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 pastry chefs earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pastry chefs in South Dakota is $38,340 (based on the related “Bakers” category), which is $1,690 above the national median of $36,650 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

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)