Career Atlas USA

Careers in South Dakota

South Dakota’s regional price level is below the national average (index 88.586, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 2% · Labor force participation: 67.2% · 480,194 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Radiologists$586,010
  2. 2Emergency Medicine Physicians$393,870
  3. 3Obstetricians and Gynecologists$297,610
  4. 4Chief Executives$280,900
  5. 5General Internal Medicine Physicians$280,520

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Fast Food and Counter Workers15,150 employed
  2. 2Registered Nurses14,710 employed
  3. 3Retail Salespersons14,180 employed
  4. 4Cashiers12,860 employed
  5. 5Stockers and Order Fillers11,460 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Choreographers29.82× national avg
  2. 2Forest and Conservation Workers27.54× national avg
  3. 3Animal Breeders10.72× national avg
  4. 4Soil and Plant Scientists10.32× national avg
  5. 5Animal Scientists9.69× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Radiologists$661,515
  2. 2Emergency Medicine Physicians$444,619
  3. 3Obstetricians and Gynecologists$335,956
  4. 4Chief Executives$317,093
  5. 5General Internal Medicine Physicians$316,664

Strongest Opportunity Score

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  1. 1Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians92 / 100
  2. 2Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products88 / 100
  3. 3Parts Salespersons87.3 / 100
  4. 4Stockers and Order Fillers86.9 / 100
  5. 5Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers86.5 / 100

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.