South Dakota Electrician Pay by Trade
Updated 2026-10-29 · 0 trades with 5+ disclosed-pay postings
The South Dakota electrician labor market
South Dakota is a small, steady plains electrician market built on healthcare, finance, food processing, and Missouri River hydropower. Sioux Falls dominates private-sector volume — Sanford and Avera health systems, Citibank's credit-card operations center, and steady commercial growth — while Rapid City serves the Black Hills tourism economy, Ellsworth Air Force Base (with the B-21 mission beddown), and a growing tech presence. Meatpacking in Sioux Falls and Huron, dairy processing, and ethanol plants sustain maintenance electricians statewide. The Missouri River dams (Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall, Gavins Point) employ hydropower electricians through the Western Area Power Administration and Basin Electric. Licensing is local — Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen each enforce journeyman requirements with no statewide ticket. South Dakota is right-to-work with low union density outside Sioux Falls public work and the Ellsworth complex (Local 426 Sioux Falls anchors the organized presence alongside utility locals through the hydropower system); there is no state prevailing-wage law. No income tax and very low living costs make nominal rates stretch far. Data centers are limited but scouting Sioux Falls for power and climate. Workforce dynamics are defined by retention and breadth over depth: electricians handle diverse scopes, apprentice pipelines are small but adequate, and the B-21 beddown at Ellsworth is the state's standout premium opportunity. For electricians, Ellsworth-cleared work and Sioux Falls healthcare-commercial work lead; hydropower and food-processing maintenance offer unusual stability.
No trade in South Dakota has 5 or more disclosed-pay postings yet — check back as coverage grows.
Frequently asked questions
What does an electrician make in South Dakota?
Based on 1 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for journeyman electrician work in South Dakota is $33.50/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $29.51/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in South Dakota?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Sioux Falls. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $33.50/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in South Dakota?
Among employers with repeated postings in South Dakota, a mix of regional contractors show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a South Dakota electrician license to work there?
Most states require a license for unsupervised electrical work, and requirements vary by state and municipality — see our step-by-step licensing pathway for South Dakota for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in South Dakota?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see South Dakota prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in South Dakota right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 1 disclosed-pay journeyman electrician postings in South Dakota. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.