Government Jobs in South Dakota: Employers & Pay

1,887

local governments (2022)

counties

1,201

cities, towns and townships

471

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

South Dakota state government pay plan

South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes publishes the classification and pay plan for South Dakota state employees: 815 job classes and 91 pay grades, effective July 1, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the SD plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Dispatcher 1 class	$34,694 – $48,963
Accountant (government)	Accountant, Senior Accountant 3 classes	$49,005 – $101,837
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Assistant 1 class	No fixed rate
Agricultural Inspector	Agriculture Inspector 1 class	$49,005 – $73,486
Budget Analyst	Budget Analyst 1 class	$49,005 – $73,486
Child Protective Services (CPS) Caseworker	Family Services Specialist, Lead Family Services Spclst 2 classes	$53,435 – $89,003
Child Support Officer	Child Support Specialist, Lead Child Support Specialist 2 classes	$49,005 – $80,101
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Engineer I–V 5 classes	$65,083 – $159,203
Community Health Worker	Community Health Worker 1 class	$44,533 – $66,768
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Purchasing Specialist 1 class	$49,005 – $73,486
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional Officer, Corrections Corporal 2 classes	$44,533 – $66,768
Court Clerk	Deputy Court Clerk I–II 2 classes	$42,058 – $67,496
Court Officer / Bailiff	Bailiff 1 class	$28,496 – $42,744
Court Reporter (official)	Court Reporter 1 class	$59,010 – $92,560
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodial Worker 1 class	$27,872 – $39,312
DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner	Driver License Examiner, Senior Driver License Examiner 2 classes	$38,376 – $60,112
Emergency Management Specialist	Emergency Management Spclst 1 class	$59,363 – $89,003
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Civil Engineering Technician 1 class	$53,435 – $80,101
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Scientist I–IV 4 classes	$56,368 – $136,594
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist I 2 classes	$66,269 – $99,382
Fish & Game Warden	Conservation Officer 1 class	$53,435 – $80,101
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Equipment Mechanic 1 class	$40,082 – $60,112
Forester	Staff Forester 1 class	$59,363 – $89,003
GIS Analyst / Specialist	GIS Analyst, GIS Specialist 2 classes	$49,005 – $89,003
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, Attorney I–V 7 classes	$66,269 – $188,302
Government Auditor	Auditor I–IV, Internal Auditor, Senior Internal Auditor 7 classes	$31,054 – $80,101
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Heavy Equipment Operator 1 class	$31,054 – $47,029
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Highway Maintenance Worker, Lead Highway Maintenance Worker 2 classes	$44,533 – $73,486
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Human Resource Specialist I–III, Human Resources Specialist, Human Resources Generalist 5 classes	$44,533 – $111,987
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Agent, Senior Revenue Agent 2 classes	$49,005 – $89,003
IT Specialist (government)	Programmer Analyst, Senior Programmer Analyst 2 classes	$64,875 – $111,987
Parole Officer	Parole Agent, Senior Parole Agent 2 classes	$53,435 – $89,003
Policy / Management Analyst	Management Analyst, Policy Analyst 2 classes	$59,363 – $111,987
Psychiatric Technician (state hospitals)	Mental Health Technician 1 class	$44,533 – $66,768
Public Information Officer	Communications Specialist, Public Information Officer 2 classes	$40,082 – $111,987
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	Highway Patrol Trooper 1 class	$53,456 – $80,163
Transportation Inspector (DOT / FMCSA / FRA)	Motor Carrier Inspector 1 class	$44,533 – $66,768
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Rehabilitation Counselor, Senior Rehabilitation Counselor 2 classes	$53,435 – $89,003
Wildland Firefighter	Wildland Firefighter 1 class	$40,082 – $60,112
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Wildlife Biologist, Senior Wildlife Biologist 2 classes	$59,363 – $99,382

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources and Administration (BHRA); Unified Judicial System for judicial classes, South Dakota Class Code Master and FY27 Pay Structures. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in South Dakota

Fire departments · 24

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue	Sioux Falls	197	Official site
Rapid City Fire Department	Rapid City	125	Official site
Ellsworth Air Force Base (FDID #02019)	Ellsworth Afb	58	—
Aberdeen Fire Rescue	Aberdeen	48	Official site
Watertown Fire Rescue	Watertown	36	—
South Dakota Air National Guard	Sioux Falls	25	—
Mitchell Fire & Ambulance	Mitchell	21	—
Doland Fire Department	Doland	18	—
Frederick Area Fire Department	Frederick	17	—
Fort Meade Fire Department	Fort Meade	12	—

All 24 fire departments in South Dakota →

Transit agencies · 11

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
City of Rapid City	Rapid City	18	Official site
City of Aberdeen	Aberdeen	15	Official site
Rosebud Sioux Tribe	Rosebud	13	—
City of Mitchell	Mitchell	12	Official site
Oglala Sioux Tribe	Pine Ridge	7	—
Yankton Sioux Tribe	Wagner	5	Official site
Lower Brule Sioux Tribe	Lower Brule	4	Official site
City of Brandon	Brandon	2	Official site
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe	Eagle Butte	0	Official site
City of Sioux Falls	Sioux Falls	0	Official site

All 11 transit agencies in South Dakota →

School districts · 148

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Sioux Falls School District 49-5	Sioux Falls	1,690	Official site
Rapid City Area School District 51-4	Rapid City	770	Official site
Harrisburg School District 41-2	Harrisburg	460	Official site
Aberdeen School District 06-1	Aberdeen	303	Official site
Brandon Valley School District 49-2	Brandon	291	Official site
Watertown School District 14-4	Watertown	239	Official site
Brookings School District 05-1	Brookings	232	Official site
Meade School District 46-1	Sturgis	214	Official site
Mitchell School District 17-2	Mitchell	195	Official site
Douglas School District 51-1	Box Elder	183	Official site

All 148 school districts in South Dakota →

Police departments · 62

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 62 police departments in South Dakota →

Sheriff's offices · 66

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 66 sheriff's offices in South Dakota →

Campus police departments · 3

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 3 campus police departments in South Dakota →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in South Dakota

Median wage in South Dakota for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in SD	Median in SD	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	14,710	$78,060	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	14,710	$78,060	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	14,710	$78,060	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	14,710	$78,060	$100,490
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	8,630	$35,480	$39,640
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	6,120	$41,700	$48,290
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	6,120	$40,650	$45,860
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	6,120	$41,700	$48,290
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	5,820	$78,880	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	5,820	$78,880	$81,390
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	4,650	$28,220	$36,990
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	4,290	$50,130	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	4,290	$50,130	$65,310
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	4,280	$137,400	$137,300
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	3,360	$51,050	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	3,360	$51,050	$74,220
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	2,980	$35,370	$40,080
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	2,980	$83,620	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	2,980	$83,620	$96,570
Middle School Teacher SOC 25-2022	2,130	$50,980	$65,300
School Cafeteria / Food Service Worker SOC 35-2012	2,120	$36,730	$36,180
Adult Protective Services Worker SOC 21-1021	2,050	$51,100	$65,660
Child Protective Services (CPS) Caseworker SOC 21-1021	2,050	$51,100	$65,660
Heavy Equipment Operator (government) SOC 47-2073	2,050	$59,500	$52,750
School Social Worker SOC 21-1021	2,050	$51,100	$65,660
Social Worker (government) SOC 21-1021	2,050	$51,100	$65,660
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	2,000	$60,740	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	2,000	$60,740	$76,300
CBP Officer (Customs & Border Protection) SOC 33-3051	2,000	$60,740	$76,300
Deputy Sheriff SOC 33-3051	2,000	$60,740	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in South Dakota