UNDATED – Workers in the utility industry in South Dakota earn the highest average salary of any sector state-wide, at around $98,000 per year.
Research from business advice company Venture Smarter has shed light on the highest-earning sectors across South Dakota. Figures from the United States Census Bureau on employment numbers and total salary per sector as of March 2021 were analyzed to reveal the average annual salary of each industry.
With the highest average annual salary of $98,509, those working in utilities are in the best position in South Dakota. A total of 2,765 people work in this sector across electric power, natural gas, steam supply, water supply, and sewage removal.
South Dakota residents working in utilities were paid $272,377,000 over a year, equating to just 1.49% of the accumulated earnings of employees all over the state.
The second highest-earning industry in South Dakota is mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction, with the average annual wage at $92,524. Approximately 1,305 people work in this sector across the state.
Employees in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction earn an accumulated annual salary of $120,744,000, which makes up 0.66% of the total state-wide earnings across every sector.
People in management roles at companies and enterprises were the third-highest earners in South Dakota. Individuals working in this sector secured an average annual salary of $82,737.
Approximately 7,623 workers are in these management roles across South Dakota, earning an accumulated $630,704,000 per year. The earnings of those in management roles at companies and enterprises comprised 3.46% of the total wages state-wide.
Despite being one of South Dakota’s most populated industries with 37,090 employees, people in the accommodation and food services sector earn the second-lowest average annual salary at $21,798. Job roles within this industry include servers, housekeepers, and various other hospitality positions.
People working in arts, entertainment, and recreation are the second-lowest-paid in South Dakota, with an average annual wage of $24,474.
A spokesperson from Venture Smarter commented on the findings: “Employed people all over South Dakota earn around $18,226,820,000 each year, with the average state-wide annual salary sitting at $50,084.”
“Utilities, finance, and higher management continue to be some of the most profitable industries across America, while the nation’s most populated industries like retail and food services appear to be some of the lowest paid on average.”
For more information on the data, visit: https://venturesmarter.com/
