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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 WebsiteAddressSchool Type
Augustana University2001 S Summit Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57197-00014-year, Private not-for-profit
Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology1325 South Cliff Avenue, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57117-50452-year, Private not-for-profit
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital501 Summit, Yankton, South Dakota 57078-38992-year, Private not-for-profit
Black Hills Beauty College623 Saint Joe, Rapid City, South Dakota 577012-year, Private for-profit
Dakota State University820 N Washington Ave, Madison, South Dakota 57042-17994-year, Public
Dakota Wesleyan University1200 W University Ave, Mitchell, South Dakota 57301-43984-year, Private not-for-profit
Headlines Academy Inc333 Omaha St. Suite 6 & 7, Rapid City, South Dakota 577012-year, Private for-profit
Lake Area Technical Institute1201 Arrow Avenue, Watertown, South Dakota 57201-07302-year, Public
Mitchell Technical Institute1800 E. Spruce Street, Mitchell, South Dakota 573012-year, Public
Mount Marty College1105 W. 8th Street, Yankton, South Dakota 57078-37244-year, Private not-for-profit
National American University-Ellsworth AFB Extension1000 Ellsworth Street, Suite 2400-B, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota 57706-48004-year, Private for-profit
National American University-Rapid City5301 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701-28234-year, Private for-profit
National American University-Sioux Falls5801 South Corporate Place, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57108-42934-year, Private for-profit
National American University-Watertown925 29th Street, Suite E., Watertown, South Dakota 57201-91234-year, primarily associate's, Private for-profit
Northern State University1200 S Jay St, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401-71984-year, Public
Oglala Lakota College490 Piya Wiconi Road, Kyle, South Dakota 57752-04904-year, Public
Presentation College1500 N Main, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401-12804-year, Private not-for-profit
Sanford Medical Center1305 W. 18th Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57117-50392-year, Private not-for-profit
Sinte Gleska UniversityE. Highway 18, 101 Antelope Lake Circle, Mission, South Dakota 57555-01054-year, primarily associate's, Private not-for-profit
Sioux Falls Seminary2100 S Summit Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 571054-year, Private not-for-profit
Sisseton Wahpeton College12572 BIA Rd 700, Sisseton, South Dakota 572622-year, Public
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology501 E Saint Joseph St, Rapid City, South Dakota 57701-39954-year, Public
South Dakota State University1015 Campanile Avenue, Brookings, South Dakota 57007-18984-year, Public
Southeast Technical Institute2320 N Career Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57107-13012-year, Public
University of Sioux Falls1101 W 22nd St, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57105-16994-year, Private not-for-profit
University of South Dakota414 E Clark St, Vermillion, South Dakota 57069-23904-year, Public
Western Dakota Technical Institute800 Mickelson Dr, Rapid City, South Dakota 57703-40182-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 CareersEmploymentHourly mean wageAnnual mean wage
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers33028.5259320
Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics100014.4630080
Pharmacy Technicians127015.6932630
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses177018.1237690
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians111019.4640490
Home Health Aides66013.3427750
Nursing Assistants594012.4825970
Occupational Therapy Assistants12018.9939490
Physical Therapist Assistants25019.7541080
Dental Assistants93018.4638410
Medical Assistants101014.3729890
Phlebotomists24013.4828040

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.

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