Pay data / Welders / Salary / South Dakota
Welder Salary
in South Dakota
Welders in South Dakota (SD) earn a median of $44,000 a year, about $21 an hour. That runs roughly 10% below the national median for welders, with most earning between $30,600 and $65,700.
Bottom 10%
$30,600
SD Median
$44,000
Top 10%
$65,700
Welder pay by experience in South Dakota
- Entry / Fabricator$28,600$14/hr
Shop welding and learning processes.
- Certified Welder$44,000$21/hr
AWS-certified on common processes and positions.
- Specialty / Pipe Welder$63,800$31/hr
6G pipe, TIG, and travel work.
Welder pay in South Dakota metros
- Sioux Falls$43,700$21/hr
- Rapid City$42,100$20/hr
- Aberdeen$42,200$20/hr
Certification in South Dakota
Welders are certified rather than licensed, typically to AWS or ASME standards for the processes and positions they run. Certifications, not a state license, gate the higher-paying work.
Frequently asked
- How much do welders make in South Dakota?
- Welders in South Dakota earn a median of $44,000 per year, about $21 per hour. That is roughly 10% below the national median. Most earn between $30,600 and $65,700.
- What is the highest-paying place for welders in South Dakota?
- Among South Dakota's major metros, Sioux Falls tends to pay welders the most, near $43,700 a year.
- Do you need a license to work as a welder in South Dakota?
- Welders are certified rather than licensed, typically to AWS or ASME standards for the processes and positions they run. Certifications, not a state license, gate the higher-paying work. In South Dakota, employers hire on certifications and demonstrated skill rather than a state license.
Welder pay in other states
Figures are estimates for 2026, anchored to national wage data and localized for South Dakota by cost of living and market conditions. Actual pay varies by employer, certification, and project.