Medical assistant salary in South Dakota
The median medical assistant salary in South Dakota is $41,870 per year, which works out to $20.13 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey. That sits 8% under the US median of $45,690.
Yearly median pay: $41,870 Usual pay range: $37,730 to $45,870 About 1,340 jobs statewide Projected growth, 2024 to 2034: 16.9%
With around 170 openings each year, this is a solid moment to look at the 3 accredited options listed on our South Dakota programs page. Pick one, fill out the brief Request information form, and your request will go straight to the school you chose.
- Median a year
- $41,870
- Lowest-paid tenth
- $35,980 or less
- Best-paid tenth
- $48,960 or more
- Medical assistant jobs
- 1,340
- Job growth 2024 to 2034
- +16.9%
How does medical assistant pay look across the state?
A median is simply the midpoint. Half the medical assistants in South Dakota make more than $41,870, and half make less. When you average everyone's pay instead, you get the mean, which comes in a bit higher at $42,170.
Workers in the middle 50% bring home between $37,730 and $45,870. Those in the bottom 10% make $35,980 or less, while the top 10% make $48,960 or higher.
South Dakota compared with other states
Out of 51 (the 50 states plus Washington, DC), South Dakota comes in at 35 for median medical assistant pay.
The role is also rarer here than in most of the country. Roughly 1,340 medical assistants work in South Dakota, equal to 2.9 per 1,000 jobs. On that measure, the state sits near the bottom, at 48th out of 51.
Pay across Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Sioux City
Your location can shift your pay by a few thousand dollars. The highest median belongs to Sioux City, IA-NE-SD, at $45,650. Among the state's metro areas, Rapid City has the lowest median, at $40,690.
The largest number of medical assistant jobs is in Sioux Falls, SD-MN, with roughly 620 positions.
| Metro area | Median a year | Median an hour | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $45,650 | $21.95 | 280 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $43,760 | $21.04 | 620 |
| Rapid City, SD | $40,690 | $19.56 | 240 |
Medical assistant pay against other health jobs
Here is how yearly medians in South Dakota stack up.
| Job | Yearly median |
|---|---|
| Medical assistant | $41,870 |
| Nursing assistant | $38,800 |
| Phlebotomist | $39,560 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse | $52,750 |
| Registered nurse | $78,060 |
Phlebotomists draw blood for lab testing. In South Dakota, medical assistants make more than phlebotomists and nursing assistants, though less than either type of nurse.
Job growth and yearly openings
The state's labor agency projects medical assistant jobs will climb from 1,180 in 2024 up to 1,380 by 2034. That works out to 16.9% growth, ahead of the US rate of 12.5%. For projected growth, South Dakota comes in 20th of 51.
Each year, roughly 170 openings are expected. That figure covers both newly created positions and vacancies from people moving on.
Training options in South Dakota
Our site lists 4 schools in South Dakota whose medical assistant graduate numbers appear in federal reports. Of those, 3 run programs holding CAAHEP or ABHES accreditation. Accreditation tells you an outside organization has checked the program against national standards.
Nationwide, career school programs run a median of 9 months. The majority take 7 to 9 months, while 19 take 6 months or less. Here are the US cost figures:
| US median cost, 2023-24 | Median price |
|---|---|
| Full career-school program, including tuition, fees and books | $17,257 |
| A year of full-time, in-district study at a public college | $4,346 |
Distance education is an option for some coursework. The hands-on clinical portion, known as an externship, always happens in person.
Data sources: Projections Central, BLS wage tables, May 2025, and College Navigator.
Pay: Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey, May 2025. Growth: Projections Central, from South Dakota’s labor market office. The job itself: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
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