Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses Salary in South Dakota
In South Dakota, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn a median $52,750 a year, well below the national median of $64,400 (−18%); the state ranks 50th of 51 states by median. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses earn 12% more than the median across all occupations in South Dakota ($47,080). Every neighbouring state pays more: Minnesota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and Montana range from $62,210 in Montana to $63,750 in Minnesota. South Dakota employs 2,050 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, 4.49 per 1,000 jobs, the 40th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 1.08 is close to the national share.
South Dakota vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| South Dakota | Hourly | $19.60 | $23.88 | $25.36 | $29.47 | $32.55 | $26.44 | 2,050 | 4.49 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $40,770 | $49,680 | $52,750 | $61,300 | $67,700 | $54,990 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.91 | $28.37 | $30.96 | $36.55 | $40.12 | $32.24 | 648,410 | – | – |
| Annual | $49,740 | $59,000 | $64,400 | $76,030 | $83,440 | $67,050 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 50th of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 40th of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 1.08
- Jobs per 1,000
- 4.49
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of South Dakota's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in South Dakota
3 metropolitan areas and 2 nonmetropolitan areas touching South Dakota publish a row for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $29.06 | $60,440 | $49,810 | $74,050 | 260 | 3.52 | 0.84 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $25.73 | $53,520 | $38,940 | $64,770 | 990 | 5.54 | 1.33 |
| Rapid City, SD | $25.11 | $52,220 | $41,440 | $73,920 | 340 | 4.56 | 1.09 |
| West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $26.70 | $55,530 | $39,780 | $72,280 | 210 | 3.33 | 0.80 |
| East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $26.33 | $54,760 | $45,540 | $72,730 | 530 | 3.98 | 0.95 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $25.36 | $52,750 | 2,050 | 1.08 |
| Iowa | $30.11 | $62,630 | 5,510 | 0.85 |
| Minnesota | $30.65 | $63,750 | 12,840 | 1.04 |
| Montana | $29.91 | $62,210 | 1,620 | 0.76 |
| North Dakota | $29.95 | $62,300 | 1,920 | 1.07 |
| Nebraska | $30.13 | $62,660 | 4,580 | 1.07 |
| Wyoming | $30.51 | $63,460 | 480 | 0.41 |
See the national page for Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (every state ranked) and the South Dakota wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS South Dakota estimates.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.