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 %
Employment Usa Llc 1 $34,008 50.00%
Dast Llc 1 $34,528 50.00%
Usdaagricultural Research Service 1 $34,778 50.00%
Briar Cliff University 1 $34,819 50.00%
Rapid City Area Schools 1 $35,250 50.00%
State Of South Dakota Attorney Generals Office 1 $35,530 50.00%
Office Elements Group Llc 1 $35,547 50.00%
East Central Mental Health And Chemical Dependency Center 1 $35,547 50.00%
Lower Brule School District 1 $36,160 50.00%
Eagle Butte Elementary School 1 $36,677 50.00%
Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Bk Seidel Inc 3 $37,419 100.00%
Belltown Farms Gunsmoke Llc 3 $33,453 100.00%
Chris Arthur 3 $38,106 100.00%
Breding Farms Llc 3 $36,137 100.00%
Summit Contracting 3 $28,323 100.00%
Timber Lake Elk Ranch 3 $30,049 100.00%
Mike Assman 3 $26,465 100.00%
Hamilton Bee Farms 3 $22,374 100.00%
Opp Forage Llc 3 $28,551 100.00%
Lake County Pheasant 3 $36,137 100.00%
Company # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %

Top Industries in South Dakota (All Years)

Industry # of Jobs Avg Wage Approval %
Medical Laboratories 1 $36,100 50.00%
Marinas 1 $26,146 50.00%
Other Activities Related To Credit Intermediation 1 $151,819 50.00%
Cattle Ranching And Farming 1 $31,242 100.00%
Communications Equipment Manufacturing 1 $51,418 100.00%
Fur Bearing Animal And Rabbit Production 1 $27,726 100.00%

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