Do welders need a license in South Dakota?

No statewide license is required for welders in South Dakota. Most employers expect industry certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW), and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification.

What apprenticeships are available for welders 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 Welder in South Dakota (2026)

Q: How much do welders earn in South Dakota?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), welders in South Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $49,440. Employment concentration in South Dakota is about 2.66 times the national average for this occupation.

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

South Dakota currently employs approximately 3,250 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers earn a median annual wage of $49,440 ($23.77/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,250 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -8.0% below the national median of $53,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $49,440 ($23.77/hr)
25th percentile: $45,710 per year
75th percentile: $59,360 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $63,380 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,100 per year
Workers employed in South Dakota: 3,250
Versus national median: -8.0% below the U.S. median of $53,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 2.66 - this occupation is more 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 3,250 welders earning a median $49,440 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No statewide license is required; most welders train through a certificate program and earn an industry certification before employers will hire them.

Compare Welder 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*	64 mi
2	Lake Area Technical College	74.7	$6,718	$49,488	73%	Yes*	96 mi
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3	Northwest Iowa Community College	72.4	$7,350 in-state / $7,650 out-of-state	$60,885	58%	Yes*	51 mi
4	Northeast Community College	71.4	$3,840 in-state / $5,130 out-of-state	$49,390	56%	Yes*	109 mi
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5	Southeast Technical College	69.7	$7,650	$53,289	59%	Yes*	3 mi
6	Ridgewater College	68.7	$6,121	$49,859	50%	Yes*	137 mi
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7	South Central College	60.0	$6,146	$52,003	39%	Yes*	141 mi
8	Iowa Lakes Community College	59.8	$7,392 in-state / $7,872 out-of-state	$47,158	50%	Yes*	96 mi
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9	Minnesota West Community and Technical College	58.5	$6,491	$52,390	52%	Yes*	105 mi
10	Western Iowa Tech Community College	57.6	$5,186 in-state / $5,330 out-of-state	$47,713	50%	Yes*	76 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.

South Dakota employs approximately 3,250 welders according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,440 ¹. The state’s concentration of welder jobs is 2.66x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 45,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Welder in South Dakota, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (South Dakota): $49,440 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Welder in South Dakota

How to become a Welder in South Dakota? South Dakota does not require a state license for welders, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW) and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification. Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths into the welder field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in South Dakota? No state license is required, but certifications such as AWS Certified Welder (CW) and OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification are expected by most employers.

What do welders earn in South Dakota? The median annual wage for welders in South Dakota is $49,440 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,100 and experienced professionals can earn $63,380 or more ¹.

How to Become a Welder in South Dakota

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most South Dakota training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an approved trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in South Dakota that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Earn an industry certification. While South Dakota does not require a statewide license, earn AWS Certified Welder (CW) to meet employer expectations and improve hiring prospects.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Welder Certification Options in South Dakota

South Dakota does not require a state license to work as a welder. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for welders include:

AWS Certified Welder (CW)
OSHA 10/30 Safety Certification

For more information, visit the American Welding Society (AWS) ³. Contact training programs in South Dakota for details on certification preparation courses.

Welder Apprenticeship Information in South Dakota

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. South Dakota’s apprenticeship program is administered by the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship ⁴.

Contact Information:

Office: StartTodaySD Apprenticeship Program
Address: 123 West Missouri Avenue, Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 910-7031
Email: [email protected]

Welder Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers Wages by Metro Area in South Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers 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	850	$55,200	$57,080	$40,140	$80,120
Sioux City	440	$58,230	$56,940	$39,270	$72,800
Rapid City	200	$51,690	$54,110	$38,340	$71,000

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 welders in South Dakota? South Dakota currently employs approximately 3,250 welders ¹. Nationally, welder employment is projected to grow 2.2% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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 programs in South Dakota. You can also contact the South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do welders earn in South Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for welders in South Dakota is $49,440, which is $1,560 below the national median of $51,000 according to BLS data ¹.

In South Dakota

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

Top local programs

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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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
American Welding Society (AWS): https://www.aws.org/certification/ ↩︎
South Dakota Department of Labor - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

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)