
Fastest-growing jobs in South Dakota
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis revealed that, as of September 2025, the national hiring rate has reached a decade low, with the exception of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Associated Press reports that several factors have contributed to this, including the impact of the eleven interest rate hikes that occurred in 2022 and 2023 and the dozens of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump since the beginning of the year.
Economists generally agree that the long-run breakeven employment growth rate (or the rate at which new jobs need to be added to keep up with population growth) is somewhere between 70,000 and 90,000 jobs per month. However, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August 2025, just 22,000 new jobs were added. June and July saw a combined 87,000 new jobs added to the workforce.
Those numbers are bleak, to be sure, but not all employment news is bad. Certain sectors, like health care and social services, continue to see rapid growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said average hourly earnings for all employees are also up by 3.7% over the past 12 months. The total number of hours worked per week has been edging down for all employees, providing opportunities for much-needed work-life balance.
The employment story also looks quite different from state to state. Some places, like Utah, New Mexico, Hawai'i, and Idaho, are seeing high-percentage job growth year over year; others, like Washington D.C., Iowa, and Kansas, have actually seen a shrinkage in the overall number of job openings.
Using BLS jobs data, Stacker determined the fastest-growing jobs in South Dakota. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2023 and 2024. Jobs were excluded from the ranking if they had fewer than 1,000 people working in them in the state.
Keep reading to learn which jobs are growing the fastest in South Dakota.
#50. Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +3.7% (350 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 9,830
--- Employment in 2023: 9,480
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,780

#49. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +3.7% (80 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,270
--- Employment in 2023: 2,190
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,150

#48. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +3.8% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,990
--- Employment in 2023: 5,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,880
#47. Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +3.9% (70 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,850
--- Employment in 2023: 1,780
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $53,140

#46. Computer Systems Analysts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +4.0% (40 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,050
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $95,850
#45. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +4.0% (50 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,540
#44. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +4.0% (50 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,240
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $57,540

#43. Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +4.1% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,790
--- Employment in 2023: 2,680
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,110

#42. Electricians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +5.3% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,790
--- Employment in 2023: 2,650
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $58,550

#41. Light Truck Drivers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +5.5% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,380
--- Employment in 2023: 4,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $44,090
#40. Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +5.5% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,740
--- Employment in 2023: 1,650
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $45,590

#39. Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +5.7% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,040
--- Employment in 2023: 1,930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $42,890

#38. General and Operations Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.2% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,440
--- Employment in 2023: 4,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $133,440
#37. Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.4% (70 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,170
--- Employment in 2023: 1,100
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,680
#36. Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +6.5% (80 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,310
--- Employment in 2023: 1,230
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $48,030

#35. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.0% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,150
--- Employment in 2023: 3,880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $37,280
#34. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.2% (390 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 5,840
--- Employment in 2023: 5,450
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,710

#33. First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +7.3% (260 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,840
--- Employment in 2023: 3,580
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,180

#32. Computer User Support Specialists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.3% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,300
--- Employment in 2023: 1,200
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,780

#31. Medical and Health Services Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.6% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,140
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $116,210

#30. Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.7% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,620
--- Employment in 2023: 1,490
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $104,060
#29. Dental Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +8.8% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,240
--- Employment in 2023: 1,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $47,680

#28. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.2% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,070
--- Employment in 2023: 980
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $73,810

#27. First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.2% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,660
--- Employment in 2023: 1,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,320

#26. Pharmacists
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.3% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,290
--- Employment in 2023: 1,180
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $140,190
#25. Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.7% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,020
--- Employment in 2023: 930
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $66,320

#24. First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.7% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,240
--- Employment in 2023: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $64,570

#23. Buyers and Purchasing Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.8% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,230
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $68,930

#22. Buyers and Purchasing Agents
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +9.8% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,230
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $68,930

#21. Home Health and Personal Care Aides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.6% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,170
--- Employment in 2023: 3,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,780

#20. Home Health and Personal Care Aides
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.6% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 4,170
--- Employment in 2023: 3,770
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,780

#19. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.6% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,040
--- Employment in 2023: 940
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $54,090

#18. Management Analysts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.8% (310 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,180
--- Employment in 2023: 2,870
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $79,660
#17. Nursing Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +10.9% (640 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 6,520
--- Employment in 2023: 5,880
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $38,070

#16. Food Preparation Workers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.0% (330 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 3,320
--- Employment in 2023: 2,990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,820

#15. Compliance Officers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.3% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,180
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $71,700
#14. Pharmacy Technicians
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +11.4% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,270
--- Employment in 2023: 1,140
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $43,760

#13. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.0% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,080
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $56,720
#12. Cooks, Short Order
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +13.8% (250 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,060
--- Employment in 2023: 1,810
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $31,160

#11. Correctional Officers and Jailers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +14.0% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,380
--- Employment in 2023: 1,210
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $52,310

#10. Stockers and Order Fillers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.3% (1,610 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 12,150
--- Employment in 2023: 10,540
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,990
#9. Animal Caretakers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.7% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,030
--- Employment in 2023: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,460
#8. Medical Assistants
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.8% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,170
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $39,350
#7. Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +15.8% (340 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 2,490
--- Employment in 2023: 2,150
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $28,640
#6. Waiters and Waitresses
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +16.4% (1,000 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 7,080
--- Employment in 2023: 6,080
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $29,080
#5. Residential Advisors
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +17.8% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,790
--- Employment in 2023: 1,520
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $36,780

#4. Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +19.0% (220 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,380
--- Employment in 2023: 1,160
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $46,350

#3. Coaches and Scouts
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +24.2% (240 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,230
--- Employment in 2023: 990
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $34,440

#2. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +26.8% (380 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,800
--- Employment in 2023: 1,420
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $50,790

#1. Cooks, Restaurant
- Increase in employment 2023-2024: +33.3% (470 employees)
--- Employment in 2024: 1,880
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Median annual salary in 2024: $35,150
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Madison Troyer, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.