"How long does it take to become a veterinary technician in South Dakota?"

"Most paths into the veterinary technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do veterinary technicians need a license in South Dakota?"

"Yes. South Dakota requires state-level licensing or registration for veterinary technicians, administered by the South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for veterinary technicians in South Dakota?"

"In South Dakota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Veterinary Technician in South Dakota

Q: "How much do veterinary technicians earn in South Dakota?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), veterinary technicians in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,300. Employment concentration in South Dakota is roughly 0.79 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in South Dakota?"

"South Dakota currently employs approximately 300 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9.1% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota veterinary technologists and technicians earn a median annual wage of $45,300 ($21.78/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 300 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -4.4% below the national median of $47,380 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $45,300 ($21.78/hr)
25th percentile: $37,430 per year
75th percentile: $47,040 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $50,440 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $35,780 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 300
Versus national median: -4.4% below the U.S. median of $47,380
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.79 - 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 approximately 300 veterinary technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,300 ¹. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a veterinary technician in South Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Veterinary Technician in South Dakota

How do I become a veterinary technician in South Dakota? South Dakota requires credentials such as Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Livestock Assistants, Veterinarian. The licensing authority is the South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? Yes. South Dakota has licensing or registration requirements for veterinary technicians. The South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do veterinary technicians earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in South Dakota is $45,300 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $35,780 and experienced professionals can earn $50,440 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
Median wage (South Dakota): $45,300 per year ¹

Veterinary Technician License Requirements in South Dakota

The South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners oversees veterinary technician licensing in South Dakota ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Veterinary Technician	A veterinary technician performs or assists a veterinarian in the performance of routine laboratory and clinical techniques, routine procedures, and patient care.
Veterinary Livestock Assistants	A person who agrees to restrict activities to only those allowed in the veterinary practice act as it pertains to veterinary livestock assistants, and to comply with all veterinary practice laws and r…
Veterinarian	Any person shall be deemed in the practice of veterinary medicine who represents himself as or is engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine in any of its branches either directly or indirectly.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Veterinary Technician Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Veterinary Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), veterinary technologists and technicians 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	100	$46,490	$44,880	$37,080	$49,590
Rapid City	50	$45,210	$42,550	$30,900	$49,590
Sioux City	40	$41,130	$42,160	$36,600	$47,410

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 2025.

Top Metros for Veterinary technicians in South Dakota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest veterinary technician employment within South Dakota according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Sioux Falls	100	$46,490
Rapid City	50	$45,210

Explore More Trades in South Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for veterinary technicians in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 300 veterinary technicians ¹. Nationally, veterinary technician employment is projected to grow 9.1% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a veterinary technician in South Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in South Dakota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in South Dakota.

How much do veterinary technicians earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for veterinary technicians in South Dakota is $45,300, which is $680 below the national median of $45,980 according to BLS data ¹.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners - Licensing Information: https://vetboard.sd.gov/licapp.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)