South Dakota (SD)
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An automated macro-level review of South Dakota's tech ecosystem.South Dakota Market Grade
Companies in South Dakota filed 58 work visa applications. Based on the local job market and salaries, this state earns an H1B Index Grade of "A+".
Hiring Fresh Talent
Hiring in South Dakota strongly favors incoming professionals. The fact that 91.7% of sponsorships are for fresh talent proves employers are building out new teams.
Living Costs
It is important to look past the raw $81,872 salary figure. Because South Dakota collects a 5.0% state tax, actual localized purchasing power settles near $77,778.
Secure Job Market
Working in South Dakota offers great peace of mind. The government clears 98.3% of the work visas filed here, while local businesses process 55 Green Cards for their current teams.
Accessible Job Market
This state provides opportunities for various skill levels. Data confirms that 17.2% of the sponsored positions in this state require highly experienced specialists.
Local Economy Focus
Sioux Falls is the top location for international talent in South Dakota. The data also shows that the Educational Services industry is the biggest job provider statewide.
Layoff Radar & Risk Indicators
Top Metro Hubs in South Dakota
Hiring volume across major cities mapped against the state baseline compensation rate of $81,872.Talent Sourcing Pipeline
Are companies hiring fresh talent or poaching from competitors?State Wage Premium
On average, employers in South Dakota offer salaries that are $16,185 higher than the baseline prevailing wage required by the Department of Labor.
10-Year Salary Trends
Comparing state-level base compensation growth for temporary H-1B visas versus permanent Green Cards (PERM).Top Hiring Employers
Companies sponsoring the most visas in this state.O*NET Wage Level Distribution
Experience requirements matched against pay tiers across the state.| Experience Level | Total Filings | Cohort Size | Minimum Base | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (Level I) | 16 | 27.6% | $45,920 | $69,566 |
| Qualified (Level II) | 25 | 43.1% | $47,900 | $71,864 |
| Experienced (Level III) | 3 | 5.2% | $87,277 | $93,870 |
| Fully Competent (Level IV) | 7 | 12.1% | $92,082 | $106,517 |
| Not Disclosed (Blank) | 7 | 12.1% | $45,689 | $195,985 |
Geographic Deployment & Worksites
The top locations where state employers place their workers.| City/Metro Area | Workforce % | City Median Pay | Wage (Level IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 27.6% (16 Filings) | $97,614 | 43.8% |
| Rapid City, SD | 20.7% (12 Filings) | $82,056 | 0.0% |
| Brookings, SD | 10.3% (6 Filings) | $83,990 | 0.0% |
| Aberdeen, SD | 5.2% (3 Filings) | $88,237 | 0.0% |
| Summit, SD | 5.2% (3 Filings) | $45,920 | 0.0% |
| Porcupine, SD | 3.4% (2 Filings) | $66,000 | 0.0% |
| Brandon, SD | 3.4% (2 Filings) | $68,734 | 0.0% |
| Lead, SD | 3.4% (2 Filings) | $88,798 | 0.0% |
| Madison, SD | 3.4% (2 Filings) | $76,608 | 0.0% |
| Saint Francis, SD | 3.4% (2 Filings) | $47,700 | 0.0% |
| Yankton, SD | 3.4% (2 Filings) | $53,040 | 0.0% |
| Manderson, SD | 1.7% (1 Filings) | $54,885 | 0.0% |
| Gayville, SD | 1.7% (1 Filings) | $45,689 | 0.0% |
| Pierre, SD | 1.7% (1 Filings) | $115,000 | 0.0% |
| Martin, SD | 1.7% (1 Filings) | $83,554 | 0.0% |
| St Francis, SD | 1.7% (1 Filings) | $47,900 | 0.0% |
| Vermillion, SD | 1.7% (1 Filings) | $58,000 | 0.0% |
Most Poached Roles
Roles with the highest volume of H-1B transfers, indicating aggressive headhunting.Dominant Industries
Distribution of cases by broad industry sector.Historical Retention Rate
Year-over-year percentage of successful visa renewals and extensions.Top Third-Party End Clients i
Where consultants are deployed.Highest Compensation Roles i
Top positions ranked by median base pay.Law Firms & Third-Party Work i
Leading legal counsel for visas.
Visa Volume & Success
-87.5% YoY Decline
LCA approvals, denials, and overall certification rates.
USCIS Petition Processing
New vs. Renewed approvals and denials in the state.Green Card Sponsorships
PERM residency applications and median GC wages.Noticing a difference in dates? Salary metrics reflect real-time DOL filings, while approval metrics rely on finalized USCIS historical data. View timelines
Complete Employers Matrix
A detailed ledger of all corporate clients operating in South Dakota.Complete Jobs Matrix
The job titles most frequently sponsored in this state.| Job Title in State | LCA Count | Median Pay | Salary Variance | Legal Wage Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse Float Pool | 4 | $71,760 | $6,240 Range | +$6,074 Over Min |
| Medical Laboratory Scientist | 3 | $68,848 | $229 Range | +$16,058 Over Min |
| K-12 Music Teacher | 3 | $45,920 | Fixed Pay | +$1,180 Over Min |
| Infectious Disease Physician | 2 | $328,000 | Fixed Pay | +$106,119 Over Min |
| Kindergarten Teacher | 2 | $56,950 | $9,050 Range | +$9,887 Over Min |
| Staff Engineer I | 2 | $88,798 | $2 Range | +$12,566 Over Min |
| Scoring And Events Coordinator | 2 | $53,040 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Assistant Professor - Ruminant Nutrition | 1 | $86,292 | Fixed Pay | +$11,582 Over Min |
| 2Nd Grade Elementary Teacher | 1 | $54,885 | Fixed Pay | +$7,315 Over Min |
| 5Th Grade Teacher | 1 | $66,000 | Fixed Pay | +$18,430 Over Min |
| Applications Administrator | 1 | $79,248 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Applications Development Tech Lead Analyst | 1 | $127,500 | Fixed Pay | +$22,439 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor - Computer And Cyber Sciences | 1 | $94,701 | Fixed Pay | +$36,541 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor - English | 1 | $58,000 | Fixed Pay | +$9,240 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor - Geography | 1 | $81,687 | Fixed Pay | +$25,637 Over Min |
| Elementary School Teacher | 1 | $49,400 | Fixed Pay | +$1,830 Over Min |
| Director Of Facilities And Construction | 1 | $110,000 | Fixed Pay | +$6,686 Over Min |
| Business Analyst | 1 | $87,277 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Asst Professor-Precision Agriculture Automation Engineering | 1 | $94,945 | Fixed Pay | +$22,915 Over Min |
| Associate Professor - Counselor Education | 1 | $76,474 | Fixed Pay | +$19,994 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor, Chemistry | 1 | $66,969 | Fixed Pay | +$8,629 Over Min |
| Assistant Professor - Statistics | 1 | $90,000 | Fixed Pay | +$40,260 Over Min |
| Hospitalist (Internist) | 1 | $320,000 | Fixed Pay | +$239,254 Over Min |
| Interventional Cardiology Physician | 1 | $0 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Interventional And Diagnostic Radiologist/Medical Director | 1 | $0 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Instructor - Information Systems | 1 | $58,515 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Manager, Software Development | 1 | $152,214 | Fixed Pay | +$35,131 Over Min |
| Neuro Hospitalist | 1 | $108,597 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Elementary Teacher | 1 | $83,554 | Fixed Pay | +$35,984 Over Min |
| Hospitalist | 1 | $92,082 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Endocrinologist | 1 | $92,082 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Physical Education Teacher | 1 | $45,689 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Non-Invasive Cardiology Physician | 1 | $412,853 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Neurocritical Care Physician | 1 | $101,358 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Research Associate I | 1 | $62,394 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Research Engineer And Instrumentation Specialist | 1 | $72,164 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Research Scientist I | 1 | $63,970 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Secondary School Teacher | 1 | $46,000 | Fixed Pay | +$1,660 Over Min |
| Post Doctorate Research Associate | 1 | $50,100 | Fixed Pay | Baseline Pay |
| Servicenow Senior Developer | 1 | $93,870 | Fixed Pay | +$6,676 Over Min |
Historical Compensation Ledger
Year-over-year salary data comparing historical averages.| Fiscal Year | YoY Growth | Maximum | Median | Top-Heavy Skew i | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | In Progress | $328,000 | $66,000 | +15.8% Skew | $25.00/hr |
| 2025 | +3.6% | $364,000 | $62,498 | +19.2% Skew | $18.00/hr |
| 2024 | -13.9% | $400,000 | $60,342 | +23.8% Skew | $17.00/hr |
| 2023 | +0.7% | $337,084 | $70,096 | +22.6% Skew | $18.00/hr |
| 2022 | +3.2% | $398,925 | $69,576 | +24.5% Skew | $17.00/hr |
| 2021 | +4.5% | $375,000 | $67,386 | +26.7% Skew | $13.00/hr |
| 2020 | -5.1% | $330,000 | $64,500 | +31.6% Skew | $12.00/hr |
| 2019 | -0.7% | $400,000 | $67,997 | +26.0% Skew | $14.00/hr |
| 2018 | +7.3% | $400,000 | $68,500 | +22.6% Skew | $22.00/hr |
| 2017 | +2.1% | $350,000 | $63,821 | +32.4% Skew | $22.00/hr |
| 2016 | N/A | $335,300 | $62,500 | +20.5% Skew | $15.00/hr |
Recent Visa Filings (FY 2026)
Raw, unedited federal disclosures processed in this state.State Intelligence (FAQ)
Common questions and insights regarding South Dakota.What is the highest-paying area for H-1B visas in South Dakota?
Currently, Sioux Falls operates as the most lucrative market in South Dakota, offering professionals a median wage of $97,614.
Do H-1B workers pay high taxes in South Dakota?
Local state income tax averages approximately 5.0%. An H-1B worker taking home $81,872 here will pay an estimated $4,094 to the state.
Which business sector leads H-1B hiring in South Dakota?
The highest volume of job offers originates from the Educational Services industry, which accounts for 41.4% of the state's total sponsorships.