What this means Our calculation
14 of 36 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $102,600. Prices run 9% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is lower than most metros (2.0%) and the population is growing faster than most (+9.5% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Sioux Falls Government data
All 36 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Lineworker | $102,600 | +6% | $113,206 | 130 | #96 |
| Construction Supervisor | $78,940 | +2% | $87,100 | 990 | #148 |
| Building Inspector | $78,410 | +16% | $86,516 | 60 | #66 |
| Wind Turbine Technician | $62,650 | -1% | $69,126 | 100 | #5 |
| HVAC Technician | $62,440 | +5% | $68,895 | 600 | #116 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $61,920 | -3% | $68,321 | 430 | #266 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $61,700 | +2% | $68,078 | 620 | #144 |
| Electrician | $61,470 | -2% | $67,824 | 1,330 | #216 |
| Brickmason | $61,460 | -2% | $67,813 | 160 | #83 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $60,960 | +2% | $67,262 | 630 | #169 |
| Flooring Installer | $59,500 | +6% | $65,651 | 90 | #23 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $59,430 | -5% | $65,574 | 230 | #237 |
| Ironworker | $59,200 | -7% | $65,320 | 200 | #102 |
| Auto Mechanic | $59,190 | +21% | $65,309 | 720 | #47 |
| Paving Equipment Operator | $58,120 | +16% | $64,128 | 40 | #49 |
| Welder | $55,200 | +6% | $60,906 | 850 | #143 |
| Plumber | $55,000 | -10% | $60,686 | 810 | #309 |
| Hazmat Removal Worker | $52,670 | +9% | $58,115 | 70 | #36 |
| Machinist | $52,000 | -9% | $57,376 | 160 | #250 |
| Fence Installer | $51,580 | +7% | $56,912 | 80 | #17 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $50,310 | -3% | $55,511 | 240 | #196 |
| Drywall Installer | $49,560 | -8% | $54,683 | 220 | #105 |
| Carpenter | $49,410 | -12% | $54,518 | 1,640 | #271 |
| Roofer | $48,880 | -3% | $53,933 | 180 | #161 |
| Pest Control Technician | $48,460 | +9% | $53,470 | 80 | #24 |
| Painter | $48,440 | +2% | $53,447 | 360 | #160 |
| Maintenance Technician | $48,330 | +0% | $53,326 | 1,270 | #197 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $48,310 | -21% | $53,304 | 170 | #225 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $48,030 | -28% | $52,995 | 240 | #223 |
| Concrete Finisher | $47,790 | -17% | $52,730 | 1,020 | #254 |
| Glazier | $47,590 | -14% | $52,510 | 70 | #122 |
| Construction Laborer | $46,850 | +0% | $51,693 | 700 | #195 |
| Septic & Sewer Technician | $45,120 | -12% | $49,784 | 40 | #125 |
| Insulation Installer | $45,050 | -7% | $49,707 | 170 | #92 |
| Appliance Repair Technician | $44,940 | -11% | $49,586 | 30 | #108 |
| Landscaper | $37,400 | -0% | $41,266 | 1,090 | #204 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Sioux Falls
The Sioux Falls area has about 136,760 homes. 35% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is newer than most; 28% were built in 2010 or later. 65% of households own their home, and the median home value is $331,400.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Sioux Falls Government data
In an average year, Sioux Falls has 15 days at 90°F or hotter (fewer than most metros; typical metro 33), 162 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 53 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 45 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 83°F and winter nights 12°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Sioux Falls, SD station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
2.0% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Sioux Falls area's population grew 9.5% from 2020 to 2025 (287,378 → 314,638), ranking #42 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +19,690) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Sioux Falls are down 42% from 2021 to 2025 (3,986 → 2,327). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Sioux Falls area is 19 minutes each way, shorter than the typical metro (24 min). 5% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 78% drive alone, 0% take transit and 9% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in South Dakota Official source
The main state licensing office in South Dakota is the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. The state licenses electricians and plumbers. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official South Dakota licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 2.3% of wage and salary workers in South Dakota were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#51 of 51 states and D.C.), and 3.1% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in South Dakota.