Stacker // Canva
Fastest-growing jobs in South Dakota
With the country eager to put the pandemic firmly in the rear-view mirror, the American economy continued to boom in 2023. The national unemployment rate remained around 3.6%, while the total number of people employed grew to roughly 152 million, up from 148 million in 2022.
The economy has seen several significant changes in recent years. Many people are leaving expensive coastal states such as California and New York and moving to more affordable places in the Mountain West region and the South, buoyed by companies that have embraced remote work. What's more, in a reversal of past trends, wages grew the fastest for lower-earning workers.
Stacker analyzed jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the fastest-growing jobs in South Dakota. Occupations were ranked by the percentage increase in employment between 2022 and 2023. 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.
You may also like: Counties with the most bridges in South Dakota
Dean Drobot // Shutterstock
#50. Cashiers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.1% (490 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 12,530
--- Employment in 2022: 12,040
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,430
Kot500 // Shutterstock
#49. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.1% (50 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,270
--- Employment in 2022: 1,220
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $59,290
fizkes // Shutterstock
#48. Management analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.4% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,870
--- Employment in 2022: 2,750
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,470
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock
#47. Food service managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.4% (50 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,180
--- Employment in 2022: 1,130
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $58,930
Canva
#46. Security guards
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.4% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,410
--- Employment in 2022: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,330
You may also like: Which movies were filmed in South Dakota?
Paul.J.West // Shutterstock
#45. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.5% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,430
--- Employment in 2022: 4,240
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $27,310
Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock
#44. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.5% (70 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,620
--- Employment in 2022: 1,550
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,520
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#43. Substitute teachers, short-term
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.6% (70 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,600
--- Employment in 2022: 1,530
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,230
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock
#42. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +4.7% (160 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,580
--- Employment in 2022: 3,420
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $49,100
UfaBizPhoto // Shutterstock
#41. Parts salespersons
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.0% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,900
--- Employment in 2022: 1,810
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $42,730
You may also like: Cities with the most expensive homes in South Dakota
Lopolo // Shutterstock
#40. Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.1% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,060
--- Employment in 2022: 1,960
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $50,790
VH-studio // Shutterstock
#39. Child, family, and school social workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.3% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,780
--- Employment in 2022: 1,690
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,930
Canva
#38. Preschool teachers, except special education
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.5% (70 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,350
--- Employment in 2022: 1,280
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $30,990
BlueSkyImage // Shutterstock
#37. Fast food and counter workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.5% (790 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 15,090
--- Employment in 2022: 14,300
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $29,160
Arjuna Kodisinghe // Shutterstock
#36. Network and computer systems administrators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.6% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,890
--- Employment in 2022: 1,790
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $66,790
You may also like: Best public colleges in South Dakota
David Spates // Shutterstock
#35. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.7% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Employment in 2022: 1,060
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $54,500
sculpies // Shutterstock
#34. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.7% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,220
--- Employment in 2022: 2,100
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $71,170
comzeal images // Shutterstock
#33. Loan officers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.8% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,000
--- Employment in 2022: 1,890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $76,640
nullplus // Shutterstock
#32. Light truck drivers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +5.9% (230 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,150
--- Employment in 2022: 3,920
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $40,480
Canva
#30. Compliance officers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.0% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Employment in 2022: 1,000
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $65,920
You may also like: Best colleges in South Dakota
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock
#30. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.0% (60 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,060
--- Employment in 2022: 1,000
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $43,710
Gabriel Georgescu // Shutterstock
#29. Hotel, motel, and resort desk clerks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +6.7% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,900
--- Employment in 2022: 1,780
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,630
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#28. Driver/sales workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.0% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,380
--- Employment in 2022: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,650
Rido // Shutterstock
#27. Human resources specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.2% (100 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,490
--- Employment in 2022: 1,390
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $58,700
Canva
#26. Bartenders
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +7.9% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,700
--- Employment in 2022: 3,430
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,380
You may also like: Counties with the worst droughts in South Dakota
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock
#25. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.0% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,880
--- Employment in 2022: 1,740
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $66,000
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock
#24. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.4% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,160
--- Employment in 2022: 1,070
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,300
evgenii mitroshin // Shutterstock
#23. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.5% (140 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,780
--- Employment in 2022: 1,640
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,260
Pressmaster // Shutterstock
#22. Market research analysts and marketing specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +8.8% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,480
--- Employment in 2022: 1,360
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $61,990
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#21. Medical and health services managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +9.4% (90 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,050
--- Employment in 2022: 960
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $110,110
You may also like: Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in South Dakota
SritanaN // Shutterstock
#20. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +10.0% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,320
--- Employment in 2022: 1,200
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $57,200
GLRL // Shutterstock
#19. Buyers and purchasing agents
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +10.9% (110 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,120
--- Employment in 2022: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $69,570
Canva
#18. Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +11.4% (360 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 3,510
--- Employment in 2022: 3,150
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,300
Canva
#17. Construction laborers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +11.5% (190 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,840
--- Employment in 2022: 1,650
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $39,050
Canva
#16. General and operations managers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.4% (460 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 4,180
--- Employment in 2022: 3,720
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $130,610
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in South Dakota
4 PM production // Shutterstock
#15. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.6% (170 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,520
--- Employment in 2022: 1,350
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $75,830
Syda Productions // Shutterstock
#14. Dental assistants
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +12.9% (130 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,140
--- Employment in 2022: 1,010
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $47,490
Canva
#13. Computer systems analysts
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.5% (120 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,010
--- Employment in 2022: 890
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $92,290
4 PM production // Shutterstock
#12. Automotive service technicians and mechanics
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +13.6% (270 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,250
--- Employment in 2022: 1,980
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $46,520
Nejron Photo // Shutterstock
#11. Cleaners of vehicles and equipment
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.5% (200 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,490
--- Employment in 2022: 1,290
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $32,020
You may also like: Best public high schools in South Dakota
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock
#10. Insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +15.8% (150 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,100
--- Employment in 2022: 950
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $38,780
Canva
#9. Food preparation workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +16.8% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,990
--- Employment in 2022: 2,560
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $28,260
Canva
#8. Stockers and order fillers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +17.4% (1,560 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 10,540
--- Employment in 2022: 8,980
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $35,510
Canva
#7. Electricians
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +18.8% (420 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,650
--- Employment in 2022: 2,230
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $57,750
wavebreakmedia // Shutterstock
#6. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +20.3% (480 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,850
--- Employment in 2022: 2,370
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $37,930
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in South Dakota in the last week
Roman Samborskyi // Shutterstock
#5. Software developers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +21.7% (400 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,240
--- Employment in 2022: 1,840
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $82,850
Canva
#4. Cement masons and concrete finishers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +24.4% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 2,190
--- Employment in 2022: 1,760
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $40,550
Canva
#3. Lawyers
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +29.6% (320 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,400
--- Employment in 2022: 1,080
--- Median annual salary in 2023: Data unavailable
Canva
#2. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +43.0% (430 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,430
--- Employment in 2022: 1,000
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $48,710
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock
#1. Project management specialists
- Increase in employment 2022-2023: +70.6% (600 employees)
--- Employment in 2023: 1,450
--- Employment in 2022: 850
--- Median annual salary in 2023: $79,930
This story features data reporting and writing by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
You may also like: States sending the most people to South Dakota
Comments / 0