Highest Paying Trades in South Dakota

The top skilled trades in South Dakota, ranked by median annual salary. Click any trade to see detailed salary breakdowns and metro-level data.

Rank	Trade	Median Salary	Employment	Growth
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers (Linemen)	$92,060	810	+8.8%
2	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics	$67,770	780	+5.5%
3	Stationary Engineers & Boiler Operators	$66,000	90	+8.2%
4	Bus & Truck Mechanics	$61,190	1,130	+8.5%
5	Millwrights	$60,410	170	+5.4%
6	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	$59,690	1,270	+5.5%
7	HVAC Mechanics & Installers	$59,460	1,130	+5.7%
8	Heating, AC & Refrigeration Mechanics	$59,460	1,130	+5.7%
9	Electricians	$58,550	2,790	+5.2%
10	Operating Engineers (Heavy Equipment)	$56,720	2,080	+4.1%
11	Structural Iron & Steel Workers	$51,930	470	+4.5%
12	Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters	$50,790	1,800	+4.9%
13	Machinists	$49,830	580	+8.3%
14	Sheet Metal Workers	$49,780	540	+5.2%
15	Insulation Workers	$49,510	0	+5.2%
16	Automotive Service Technicians	$48,410	2,190	+8%
17	Welders, Cutters, Solderers & Brazers	$48,340	3,480	+8.2%
18	Drywall Installers	$48,280	400	+5%
19	Pipelayers	$47,230	240	+8.5%
20	Painters (Construction & Maintenance)	$46,600	670	+5.5%
21	Carpenters	$46,500	4,440	+5.2%
22	Maintenance & Repair Workers	$46,420	3,330	+8.1%
23	Cement Masons & Concrete Finishers	$45,150	2,270	+8.1%
24	Helpers — Pipelayers, Plumbers & Pipefitters	$36,280	240	+8.5%
25	Helpers — Electricians	$31,710	340	+8.4%

Explore Trades in South Dakota