Auto mechanic salary in South Dakota
Updated September 27, 2026 with BLS data from May 2025
Auto mechanics in South Dakota earn a median of $51,160 a year, or $24.60 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $80,500. South Dakota ranks 25th of 51 states and DC for auto mechanic pay, at 1% more than the U.S. median of $50,620.
- Entry-level starting pay (estimate)
- $18.59/hr
- Jobs in South Dakota
- 2,010
- After cost of living
- $57,750
- Median hourly pay
- $24.60/hr
- vs U.S. median
- +1%
- Rank among states
- 25th of 51
Entry-level to master auto mechanic pay
| Stage | Yearly pay | Hourly pay |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level | $38,670–$44,790$18.59–$21.53/hr | |
| Experienced technician | $51,160$24.60/hr | |
| Master / top earners | $61,610–$80,500$29.62–$38.70/hr |
Estimated from BLS percentiles (10th–25th, median, 75th–90th); BLS does not report pay by license level.
Pay over time
The median auto mechanic wage in South Dakota rose 10%, from $46,520 in May 2021 to $51,160 in May 2025. Prices rose 19.4% over the same period, so after inflation it fell 7.9%.
| Year | Median a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,520 | $22.37/hr |
| May 2022 | $46,120 | $22.17/hr |
| May 2023 | $46,520 | $22.36/hr |
| May 2024 | $48,410 | $23.28/hr |
| May 2025 | $51,160 | $24.60/hr |
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, each May release; inflation from the BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, May of each year). BLS cautions against reading much into year-to-year changes, so we compare the first and last years. How we compare years
How South Dakota compares
- Auto mechanics hold about the same share of jobs in South Dakota as nationally: 4.4 of every 1,000 jobs.
- The 90th-percentile wage, $80,500, is 2.1 times the 10th-percentile wage, $38,670: a measure of how much pay rises with experience and specialty.
Pay by metro area
Rural South Dakota
- West South Dakota$54,440
- East South Dakota$46,780
Other trades in South Dakota
Questions
- How much do auto mechanics make in South Dakota?
- Auto mechanics in South Dakota earn a median of $51,160 a year, or $24.60 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data. One in ten earns more than $80,500.
- How much do auto mechanics make an hour in South Dakota?
- The median hourly wage is $24.60. The middle half earn between $21.53 and $29.62 an hour. (BLS, May 2025.)
- What do entry-level auto mechanics make in South Dakota?
- BLS doesn't report pay by license level. The 10th-percentile wage, $18.59 an hour ($38,670 a year), is a reasonable estimate of starting pay; the 25th percentile is $21.53.
- Has auto mechanic pay gone up in South Dakota?
- The median auto mechanic wage in South Dakota rose 10%, from $46,520 in May 2021 to $51,160 in May 2025. Prices rose 19.4% over the same period, so after inflation it fell 7.9%. (BLS wage data and Consumer Price Index.)
- Where in South Dakota do auto mechanics earn the most?
- Among South Dakota metro areas, Sioux Falls has the highest median at $59,190 a year, and Sioux City the lowest at $54,230.
- Do auto mechanics in South Dakota earn more than the national average?
- The South Dakota median of $51,160 is 1% more than the U.S. median of $50,620. Prices in South Dakota run 11% below the national average (BEA), so the median buys about what $57,750 would nationally.
About this data
Wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for May 2025, occupation 49-3023 (Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics), area code 46. BLS counts wage and salary workers only, so self-employed auto mechanics and business owners aren't included. The cost-of-living figure divides the median by the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity for 2024 (88.6, where the U.S. average is 100). Page updated September 27, 2026. How we calculate these figures