Security Guards Salary in South Dakota

Security Guards in South Dakota have a median of $37,150 a year, below the national $38,020 (−2%); the state ranks 30th of 51 states by median. That is 21% less than the median across all occupations in South Dakota ($47,080). Among neighbouring states, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming and Montana pay more (up to $43,380 in Minnesota) and Iowa pays less (down to $37,080 in Iowa). South Dakota employs 1,460 security guards, 3.20 per 1,000 jobs, the 48th largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.39 means it is less common in South Dakota than nationally.

South Dakota vs the United States, May 2025

Security Guards: wage percentiles, mean, employment, jobs per 1,000 and location quotient in South Dakota and nationally, May 2025
AreaBasisPercentile wageMeanEmploymentJobs per 1,000Location quotient
10th25thMedian75th90th
South DakotaHourly$14.45$15.48$17.86$21.72$28.77$19.351,4603.200.39
Annual$30,060$32,190$37,150$45,190$59,840$40,250
United StatesHourly$14.52$16.93$18.28$22.21$28.29$20.421,283,470––
Annual$30,210$35,210$38,020$46,200$58,840$42,470
$0$20k$40k$60k10th10th: $30,060$30,06025th25th: $32,190$32,190MedianMedian: $37,150$37,15075th75th: $45,190$45,19090th90th: $59,840$59,840US median
South Dakota annual wage at the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th and 90th percentiles; the line marks the US median. The same numbers are in the table above.
Rank by median
30th of 51 states
Rank by employment
48th of 51 states
Location quotient
0.39
Jobs per 1,000
3.20

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 security guards, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.

AreaMedian hourlyMedian annual10th pct (annual)90th pct (annual)EmploymentJobs per 1,000Location quotient
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD$18.50$38,480$30,520$66,8103504.610.56
Sioux Falls, SD-MN$18.14$37,740$30,100$55,4106403.600.44
Rapid City, SD$17.86$37,150$30,750$62,7702403.210.39
East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area$17.17$35,710$30,100$62,3602802.070.25
West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area$16.51$34,340$27,770$50,3802504.010.49

Neighbouring states

StateMedian hourlyMedian annualEmploymentLocation quotient
South Dakota$17.86$37,1501,4600.39
Iowa$17.83$37,0806,8900.54
Minnesota$20.86$43,38014,4400.59
Montana$18.50$38,4801,6100.38
North Dakota$18.90$39,3101,3100.37
Nebraska$19.15$39,8404,7000.56
Wyoming$18.85$39,2001,1300.49

See the national page for Security Guards (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.