What’s The Most Common Job In South Dakota And How Much Does It Pay?

What is South Dakota's most common job?

It may surprise you to learn that the Mount Rushmore State is bucking the national trend.

Looking at the Numbers

A new study by ZOTA Professional Training dives into the latest occupational and wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, identifying the most common jobs in each state and where those roles pay the most. The findings show striking contrasts: some widespread positions earn modestly, while less common jobs can top six figures.

The 'most common job' was identified by the highest employment numbers per state, while wages are reported as hourly and annual mean.

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The 'Common Job' Leaders

Fast Food and Counter Workers dominate in 12 states, but their annual pay stays under $30,000. General and Operations Managers are the highest-paid common job, found in eight states.

Retail Salespersons are most common in seven states, and pay varies widely, from $30,500 in Mississippi to over $40,000 in Alaska and Vermont.

Bucking the Trend

Registered Nurses break the pattern in South Dakota and West Virginia, showing higher-than-average pay ($72k–$80k) for states’ most common jobs.

The study showed that there are 14,500 registered nurses employed in South Dakota, making an average of $34.72 per hour or $72,217.60 annually

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This role combines high demand with above-average pay, reflecting both the training required and the essential nature of healthcare work. Nurses are the backbone of medical care, and in these states, they represent the single largest share of the workforce.

The Top Jobs Across the U.S.

Fast food and counter workers are the most common jobs in 12 states, stretching from Georgia and Arkansas to Oregon and Montana. Despite employing so many people, the pay is on the lower end; workers in Kansas earn about $26,800 a year, while those in Oklahoma average just $25,000. In higher-cost states like Hawaii ($33,946) and Oregon ($35,090), wages are a bit better but still below the national average.

These jobs remain widespread because they’re easy to enter, don’t require advanced training, and are available everywhere, from small towns to major cities. They highlight a clear reality in the labor market: the most common jobs aren’t always the ones that pay the bills comfortably.

On the opposite end of the scale, General and Operations Managers are the most common job in eight states, and they’re very well compensated. Connecticut leads with salaries averaging more than $160,000 a year, while Maryland and Texas also exceed $129,000. Even in North Dakota and Kentucky, the role still averages well into six figures.

Methodology

The study analyzed state-by-state employment and wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The “most common job” was identified by the highest employment numbers per state, while wages are reported as hourly and annual mean.

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