Thanks to a very good employment outlook for the majority of medical professions through the next decade, right now is the perfect moment for those considering starting a career in healthcare in South Dakota. Medical professions are estimated to be among the state’s fastest growing according to the South Dakota Department of Labor. The rapid expansion of the healthcare industry in South Dakota mirrors an identical trend that is going on across the country. Demand is high, as is the need for more workers. In still better news for anyone planning on entering the medical field, as reported by the 2018 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), there are currently more than a million unfilled job openings (around 50% of all positions) for healthcare workers in the U.S.
About healthcare careers in South Dakota
The rapid growth of the healthcare marketplace in South Dakota plays a part in the 18% growth rate that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects for the country by 2026. This expansion is driven by the need to accommodate the challenges of an older populace and an increased number of individuals with health insurance. Because of these factors, there is a tremendous quantity of career opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds.
The Best Healthcare Schools in South Dakota
| School Name and Website | Address | School Type |
|---|---|---|
| Augustana University | 2001 S Summit Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57197-0001 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology | 1325 South Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57117-5045 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Avera Sacred Heart Hospital | 501 Summit, Yankton, South Dakota 57078-3899 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Black Hills Beauty College | 623 Saint Joe, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 | 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Dakota State University | 820 N Washington Ave, Madison, South Dakota 57042-1799 | 4-year, Public |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | 1200 W University Ave, Mitchell, South Dakota 57301-4398 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Headlines Academy Inc | 333 Omaha St. Suite 6 & 7, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 | 2-year, Private for-profit |
| Lake Area Technical Institute | 1201 Arrow Avenue, Watertown, South Dakota 57201-0730 | 2-year, Public |
| Mitchell Technical Institute | 1800 E. Spruce Street, Mitchell, South Dakota 57301 | 2-year, Public |
| Mount Marty College | 1105 W. 8th Street, Yankton, South Dakota 57078-3724 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension | 1000 Ellsworth Street, Suite 2400-B, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota 57706-4800 | 4-year, Private for-profit |
| National American University-Rapid City | 5301 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701-2823 | 4-year, Private for-profit |
| National American University-Sioux Falls | 5801 South Corporate Place, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108-4293 | 4-year, Private for-profit |
| National American University-Watertown | 925 29th Street, Suite E., Watertown, South Dakota 57201-9123 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit |
| Northern State University | 1200 S Jay St, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401-7198 | 4-year, Public |
| Oglala Lakota College | 490 Piya Wiconi Road, Kyle, South Dakota 57752-0490 | 4-year, Public |
| Presentation College | 1500 N Main, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401-1280 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Sanford Medical Center | 1305 W. 18th Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57117-5039 | 2-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Sinte Gleska University | E. Highway 18, 101 Antelope Lake Circle, Mission, South Dakota 57555-0105 | 4-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit |
| Sioux Falls Seminary | 2100 S Summit Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57105 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| Sisseton Wahpeton College | 12572 BIA Rd 700, Sisseton, South Dakota 57262 | 2-year, Public |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 501 E Saint Joseph St, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701-3995 | 4-year, Public |
| South Dakota State University | 1015 Campanile Avenue, Brookings, South Dakota 57007-1898 | 4-year, Public |
| Southeast Technical Institute | 2320 N Career Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57107-1301 | 2-year, Public |
| University of Sioux Falls | 1101 W 22nd St, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57105-1699 | 4-year, Private not-for-profit |
| University of South Dakota | 414 E Clark St, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069-2390 | 4-year, Public |
| Western Dakota Technical Institute | 800 Mickelson Dr, Rapid City, South Dakota 57703-4018 | 2-year, Public |
South Dakota Healthcare support positions
Probably the largest portion of the healthcare labor force in South Dakota is made-up of the 10,680 Healthcare Support workers who are presently working in the state. These supporting positions generally call for an associate’s degree or less, and offer an annual median wage ($28,780 for all Healthcare Support Occupations in South Dakota) that’s competitive for positions that do not call for a four year degree.
The table presented below features 10 of the most-popular entry-level occupations in South Dakota, their education requirements, employment forecasts for South Dakota, and median yearly salaries.
| South Dakota Healthcare Careers | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographers | 330 | 28.52 | 59320 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics | 1000 | 14.46 | 30080 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 1270 | 15.69 | 32630 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | 1770 | 18.12 | 37690 |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 1110 | 19.46 | 40490 |
| Home Health Aides | 660 | 13.34 | 27750 |
| Nursing Assistants | 5940 | 12.48 | 25970 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants | 120 | 18.99 | 39490 |
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 250 | 19.75 | 41080 |
| Dental Assistants | 930 | 18.46 | 38410 |
| Medical Assistants | 1010 | 14.37 | 29890 |
| Phlebotomists | 240 | 13.48 | 28040 |
Getting your foot in the door in Allied Health in SD
Regardless of the possibility of finding an entry-level job with no formal training, virtually all organizations in South Dakota want to find individuals who have some sort of credential. For this reason, it is highly recommended that anyone who is seriously considering a career in healthcare finish a professional, formal training program.
With regards to healthcare support training programs, many can be completed in one year or less.
Find healthcare courses in South Dakota
By clicking on the hyperlinks listed below, you can find important information on training in South Dakota for every different career. You can also click on the name of any of the listed vocations to find out about the best way to get yourself started on that career path.
- CNA training in South Dakota
- Dental assistant classes in South Dakota
- EMT courses in South Dakota
- HHA training in South Dakota
- LPN school in South Dakota
- Medical assistant classes in South Dakota
- Medical billing & coding programs in South Dakota
- Pharmacy technician programs in South Dakota
- Phlebotomy courses in South Dakota
- Ultrasound technician classes in South Dakota
Finding a healthcare job in South Dakota
While it is usually possible to get Healthcare Support positions in just about every area of South Dakota, the Sioux Falls area of the state enjoys the highest concentration of jobs. Approximately 3,710 medical field workers are employed in Sioux Falls, which is the state’s largest concentration of industry workers.
South Dakota’s best metropolitan areas for finding a healthcare position are listed below.
- Sioux Falls
- Rapid City. SD