nonmetropolitan area · 4600003

West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area

Figures describe the West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area, a BLS-defined region outside metropolitan areas — not a single city or town.

Median annual wage, all occupations$45,530
Total employment62,880

Across all occupations, the median wage in the West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area was $45,530 per year ($21.89 per hour) as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 62,880 jobs. 281 detailed occupations are published for this area.

Most concentrated occupations

Occupations far more common here than in the U.S. overall (location quotient ≥ 1.5, published estimates only) — a truthful picture of what makes this area’s job mix distinctive.

Location quotient: local share of employment ÷ national share
OccupationLocation quotientEmploymentMedian annual
Highway Maintenance Workers9.44590$48,380
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks4.85510$30,340
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria2.88510$36,230
Carpenters2.88780$45,740
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks2.771,540$45,760
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2.61910$29,270
Bartenders2.59790$28,710
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary2.131,220$29,130

All published occupations

Every detailed occupation BLS publishes for this area in May 2025 281 in total. Sort by pay, employment, or concentration.

Published occupations in the West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area
Occupation
Cashiers$29,290$14.082,6102.09
Fast Food and Counter Workers$28,870$13.881,9901.28
Registered Nurses$80,120$38.521,5401.12
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$45,760$22.001,5402.77
Retail Salespersons$33,920$16.311,4400.91
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$35,230$16.941,3501.51
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$29,130Not published1,2202.13
Stockers and Order Fillers$34,050$16.371,1501.00
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,120$19.771,1201.62
Waiters and Waitresses$27,730$13.331,1101.21
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$53,350Not published1,0001.77
Accountants and Auditors$76,590$36.829501.63
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$29,270$14.079102.61
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$54,380Not published8001.86
Bartenders$28,710$13.807902.59
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,080$26.007900.95
Carpenters$45,740$21.997802.88
Nursing Assistants$37,490$18.027101.21
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$48,710$23.426701.08
General and Operations Managers$124,530$59.876000.42
Management Analysts$82,380$39.606001.65
Receptionists and Information Clerks$37,360$17.965901.61
Highway Maintenance Workers$48,380$23.265909.44
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,900$17.745700.33
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,450$28.585602.05
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$54,990$26.445601.24
Light Truck Drivers$44,120$21.215601.40
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$36,230$17.425102.88
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$30,340$14.595104.85
Food Preparation Workers$29,610$14.244701.31
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$73,790$35.474600.92
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$36,760$17.674600.38
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$26,950$12.964402.09
Bus Drivers, School$38,690$18.604202.55
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$57,120Not published4101.63
Child, Family, and School Social Workers$53,370$25.664002.54
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$39,650$19.064000.80
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$32,660$15.704001.04
Childcare Workers$28,360$13.634001.93
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$54,440$26.173701.29
Office Clerks, General$38,730$18.623500.36
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$45,840$22.043303.99
Correctional Officers and Jailers$48,610$23.373202.05
Cooks, Restaurant$36,080$17.353200.56
Cooks, Short Order$30,410$14.623205.72
Customer Service Representatives$37,350$17.963200.31
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$50,000$24.043206.21
Civil Engineers$94,180$45.283001.99
Tellers$38,280$18.413002.24
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,320$36.213000.90
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$57,080$27.443001.54
Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$41,540$19.972903.96
Electricians$62,570$30.082800.91
Compliance Officers$70,820$34.052601.57
Loan Officers$80,100$38.512602.38
Insurance Sales Agents$74,260$35.702601.34
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$53,730$25.832601.40
Lawyers$100,430$48.292500.84
Security Guards$34,340$16.512500.49
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$28,670$13.792501.12
Parts Salespersons$44,540$21.412502.31
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$40,720$19.582401.23
Residential Advisors$37,260$17.912407.00
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,070$38.012300.93
Emergency Medical Technicians$38,150$18.342202.99
Dishwashers$26,430$12.712201.13
Amusement and Recreation Attendants$28,610$13.752201.40
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$57,240$27.522200.37
Network and Computer Systems Administrators$69,670$33.502101.67
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$55,530$26.702100.80
Construction Laborers$39,970$19.222100.48
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$50,740$24.402001.40
Library Technicians$27,800$13.362007.10
Loan Interviewers and Clerks$47,400$22.792003.02
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$40,820$19.632000.61
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$83,090Not published1901.44
Medical and Health Services Managers$122,930$59.101900.80
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$50,900$24.471901.48
Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers$34,620$16.6519021.97
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$50,830$24.441903.09
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,310$46.791903.60
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$79,440$38.191800.40
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$56,120$26.981800.88
Coaches and Scouts$36,090Not published1801.81
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$50,450$24.261800.95
Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$62,290$29.9518011.77
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,550$28.631801.06
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$45,980$22.111801.08
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$50,650Not published1701.64
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$34,580$16.631701.97
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products$38,940$18.7217016.82
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$61,560$29.591600.44
Software Developers$96,990$46.631600.24
Dental Assistants$47,380$22.781600.99
Cooks, Fast Food$30,400$14.621600.63
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$105,960$50.941601.40
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$50,730$24.391601.37
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$34,000$16.351601.02
Forest and Conservation Technicians$54,950$26.4215012.12
Social and Human Service Assistants$39,890$19.181500.87
Buyers and Purchasing Agents$68,300$32.841400.70
Human Resources Specialists$62,590$30.091400.39
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$49,870Not published1403.10
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$66,210$31.831401.01
Pharmacy Technicians$46,820$22.511400.74
Animal Caretakers$28,570$13.741401.28
Tour and Travel Guides$34,840$16.751406.29
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$29,000$13.941401.70
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs$36,840$17.711401.43
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$49,250$23.681400.45
Computer User Support Specialists$43,170$20.761300.46
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$54,810Not published1302.02
Pharmacists$139,950$67.281301.01
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,560$36.811301.44
Medical Records Specialists$56,770$27.291301.65
Medical Assistants$39,480$18.981300.38
First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$46,060$22.141301.84
Gambling Dealers$36,110$17.361303.90
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$44,270$21.291302.03
Forest and Conservation Workers$37,650$18.1013051.63
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,940$28.341300.52
Financial Managers$135,270$65.031200.35
Construction Managers$115,920$55.731200.80
Food Service Managers$59,270$28.491201.26
Property Appraisers and Assessors$62,820$30.201205.13
Conservation Scientists$75,360$36.2312011.83
Healthcare Social Workers$49,300$23.701201.55
Recreation Workers$38,630$18.571200.92
Gambling Cage Workers$33,300$16.0112020.30
Postal Service Clerks$60,250$28.971203.96
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$70,270$33.791200.45
Managers, All Other$110,870$53.301100.43
Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$47,600$22.881102.10
Physical Therapists$92,440$44.441101.04
Nurse Practitioners$134,130$64.491100.85
Public Safety Telecommunicators$44,640$21.461102.75
Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,490$26.681100.83
Computer Systems Analysts$95,790$46.051000.47
Rehabilitation Counselors$49,290$23.701002.65
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$30,810$14.811001.50
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$29,320$14.101000.60
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation$46,400$22.311009.28
Real Estate Sales Agents$74,730$35.931001.25
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining$55,840$26.851007.16
Automotive Body and Related Repairers$48,780$23.451001.67
Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers$38,730$18.621009.03
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$36,900$17.741000.18
Butchers and Meat Cutters$37,210$17.891001.86
Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$45,810$22.031001.54
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$59,490$28.60903.22
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$67,000$32.21902.46
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,150$28.92900.59
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$57,130Not published901.90
Instructional Coordinators$60,260$28.97900.98
Firefighters$46,730$22.47900.65
Counter and Rental Clerks$34,310$16.49900.57
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,080$31.29901.28
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$49,130$23.62902.28
Conveyor Operators and Tenders$44,730$21.50909.73
Lodging Managers$58,430$28.09804.73
Social and Community Service Managers$79,320$38.14800.97
Project Management Specialists$80,370$38.64800.17
Dental Hygienists$93,330$44.87800.86
Information and Record Clerks, All Other$53,340$25.65801.47
Painters, Construction and Maintenance$47,530$22.85800.92
Driver/Sales Workers$46,550$22.38800.51
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants$31,770$15.28801.90
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$32,820$15.78801.39
Education Administrators, All Other$108,990$52.40703.14
Cost Estimators$74,880$36.00700.77
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$61,870$29.75701.65
Soil and Plant Scientists$72,790$35.007011.27
Biological Scientists, All Other$81,330$39.10703.14
Urban and Regional Planners$71,180$34.22703.72
Community Health Workers$46,150$22.19702.72
Physician Assistants$138,720$66.69701.13
Paramedics$42,740$20.55701.79
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$44,070$21.19701.30
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$33,940$16.32701.41
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$50,940$24.49701.60
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$38,860$18.68700.54
Billing and Posting Clerks$45,930$22.08700.45
Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$41,600$20.00700.81
Agricultural Equipment Operators$48,620$23.37706.33
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,020$30.30701.26
Chief Executives$199,990$96.15600.76
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$43,130$20.74601.11
Financial and Investment Analysts$104,330$50.16600.42
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists$64,560$31.04607.89
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$56,940Not published601.46
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$64,940$31.22601.33
Veterinarians$87,700$42.16601.86
Chefs and Head Cooks$45,010$21.64600.77
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$43,230$20.78602.87
Construction and Building Inspectors$61,450$29.54600.95
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$49,480$23.79602.65
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$37,680$18.11602.50
Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,290$21.77601.66
Packers and Packagers, Hand$24,110$11.59600.27
Facilities Managers$88,710$42.65500.83
Industrial Production Managers$101,160$48.63500.47
Natural Sciences Managers$116,580$56.05501.10
Training and Development Specialists$68,630$33.00500.26
Tax Preparers$46,330$22.28501.57
Computer Network Support Specialists$56,200$27.02500.79
Web Developers$51,100$24.57501.63
Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$63,540$30.55501.39
Teachers and Instructors, All Other$84,950Not published501.00
Photographers$43,890$21.10502.24
Dentists, General$128,270$61.67500.91
Family Medicine Physicians$281,640$135.41501.18
Surgical Technologists$54,680$26.29501.07
Opticians, Dispensing$43,310$20.82501.64
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$77,810$37.41500.80
Detectives and Criminal Investigators$63,110$30.34501.03
Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators$31,600$15.195013.27
Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral Arrangers$46,530$22.37505.00
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,470$30.04500.09
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$47,680$22.92500.86
Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$45,760$22.00500.86
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$44,540$21.42500.29
Helpers--Electricians$32,320$15.54501.90
Tire Repairers and Changers$36,610$17.60501.04
Industrial Machinery Mechanics$72,170$34.70500.26
Bakers$35,360$17.00500.48
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$52,000$25.00502.15
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians$29,870$14.36509.56
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$54,000$25.96502.85
Sales Managers$111,540$53.62400.15
Human Resources Managers$102,190$49.13400.49
Architectural and Engineering Managers$129,990$62.50400.44
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents$88,050$42.33406.98
Emergency Management Directors$68,990$33.17407.51
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$63,790$30.67400.31
Information Security Analysts$101,310$48.71400.56
Computer Occupations, All Other$94,220$45.30400.22
Education Teachers, Postsecondary$59,920Not published401.80
Graphic Designers$41,980$20.18400.49
News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$38,310$18.42402.56
Public Relations Specialists$64,500$31.01400.34
Chiropractors$76,100$36.59402.62
Occupational Therapists$87,350$41.99400.55
Speech-Language Pathologists$66,900$32.16400.57
Physicians, All Other$239,200 or more$115.00 or more400.25
Fish and Game Wardens$62,940$30.264018.08
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$30,680$14.75400.33
First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$47,320$22.75400.71
First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$47,410$22.79403.80
First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services$41,160$19.79400.88
First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$46,900$22.55400.79
Gambling and Sports Book Writers and Runners$31,120$14.964011.63
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$26,880$12.92400.91
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$49,370$23.74400.31
First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$108,140$51.99400.49
Advertising Sales Agents$47,170$22.68401.08
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$87,610$42.12400.21
Sales and Related Workers, All Other$61,790$29.71401.13
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service$35,200$16.92401.75
Pipelayers$47,910$23.03403.19
Roofers$47,710$22.94400.77
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$44,710$21.49400.62
Printing Press Operators$42,750$20.56400.65
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$40,560$19.50400.27
Commercial Pilots$79,990Not published402.03
Administrative Services Managers$88,600$42.59300.32
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$94,060$45.22300.34
Education Administrators, Postsecondary$101,850$48.97300.44
Budget Analysts$76,650$36.85301.83
Database Administrators$85,860$41.28301.13
Foresters$58,220$27.99308.13
Agricultural Technicians$40,770$19.60305.17
Biological Technicians$40,550$19.49301.09
Business Teachers, Postsecondary$63,560Not published301.02
Editors$56,730$27.28300.82
Physical Therapist Assistants$49,830$23.96300.71
Medical Transcriptionists$46,070$22.15301.90
Bill and Account Collectors$45,640$21.94300.49
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$40,160$19.31300.88
Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals$37,970$18.26302.50
Machinists$54,130$26.02300.28
Helpers--Carpenters$30,160$14.50Not publishedNot published

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.