We now have Quarter 4 H1B visa FY 2023 data and Quarter 4 PERM visa FY 2023 data and Quarter 4 H2A visa FY 2023 data.
Employer Search tool is moved to it's own page: "H1B Visa Data Search Tool"

South Dakota Foreign Labor Visa Stats (All Years)

Total Visas % of all Visas Average Wage Visa Type
3,930 49.46% $71,841 H-1B
3,166 39.84% $31,156 H-2A
815 10.26% $51,076 PERM
35 0.44% $50,361 E-3 Australian

As of May 2023, South Dakota has seen a total of 7,946 visa workers across all visa types. The most common visa class in South Dakota is the H-1B visa with 3,930 H-1B visas on record over all years accounting for 49.46% of South Dakota's total visas. The second most prevalent visa is the H-2A visa with 3,166 H-2A visas on record over all years accounting for 39.84% of South Dakota's total visas.

Top Occupations in South Dakota (All Years)

Occupation # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers 7 $34,513 14.89%
Fence Erectors 7 $37,606 15.56%
Nursery Workers 5 $34,445 11.90%
Helpers--Carpenters 5 $35,460 12.20%
Carpenters 3 $38,861 8.11%
Helpers--Electricians 3 $36,137 8.33%
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers 3 $33,453 8.57%
Pesticide Handlers, Sprayers, and Applicators, Vegetation 2 $35,152 5.88%
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators 2 $34,258 6.45%
Agricultural Inspectors 2 $31,179 6.45%
South Dakota Employees Over Time
South Dakota has been in the H1B Visa program since 2011 where 259 employees were hired. South Dakota peaked in 2024 with 462 employees, and has since been on a decline with the most recent number of employees being 74 in 2025.

Top Countries with Workers in South Dakota From PERM Program (All Years)

Country # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Vietnam 84 $24,503 50.00%
Brazil 65 $32,278 41.40%
Mexico 61 $42,356 42.36%
Burma (myanmar) 45 $20,361 39.47%
India 39 $119,488 56.52%
Cambodia 29 $23,767 52.73%
Nepal 29 $62,139 52.73%
Bangladesh 29 $29,916 53.70%
South Africa 24 $33,443 52.17%
South Korea 24 $44,885 60.00%

Top Hiring Companies in South Dakota (All Years)

Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Cod Cores Inc 3 $106,045 100.00%
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe 3 $168,113 100.00%
Rapid City Regional Hospital Inc 3 $179,827 100.00%
Regional Health Physicians Inc 3 $192,151 100.00%
Avera Mckennan Hospital University Health Center 3 $183,387 100.00%
Sanford Clinic North 2 $0 66.67%
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra 2 $21,653 66.67%
Robert Sharp Associates 2 $34,091 66.67%
Mount Marty University 2 $32,247 66.67%
Cibergate Inc 2 $43,951 66.67%
Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Brett Huber 5 $36,271 100.00%
Shawn Gengerke 5 $34,154 100.00%
Bannwarth Ag Gp 5 $34,528 100.00%
Rocking Diamond Livestockcharles S Haak 5 $9,600 100.00%
Dan Jerrys Greenhouse Inc Sd 5 $35,859 100.00%
M D Farms Inc 5 $34,154 100.00%
Jeff Paplow Harvesting Llc 5 $37,319 100.00%
Mark Fulton 5 $34,769 100.00%
Jason Lamb Farm 5 $42,091 100.00%
Modak Dairy Inc 5 $35,913 100.00%
Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %

Top Industries in South Dakota (All Years)

Industry # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Full Service Restaurants 11 $27,656 61.11%
Casino Hotels 11 $21,309 64.71%
Oilseed And Grain Farming 10 $33,405 66.67%
Hog And Pig Farming 10 $47,426 90.91%
Beef Cattle Ranching And Farming 9 $37,911 81.82%
Geophysical Surveying And Mapping Services 8 $56,005 72.73%
Computer Systems Design Services 8 $54,488 72.73%
Hotels Except Casino Hotels And Motels 8 $21,752 80.00%
Other Grain Farming 6 $30,933 60.00%
Prefabricated Wood Building Manufacturing 6 $48,270 66.67%

South Dakota Wage Comparison to Other States (All Years)

The chart below compares The average wage in South Dakota to that of the top 9 states with the highest overall average H1-B wage. The average wage in South Dakota over all years is $71,841. The state with the highest average wage of H1-B workers for all states is CA with an average wage of $104,510.

State Avg Wage