How much does a Welder make in South Dakota?

BLS puts the average Welder pay in South Dakota at $51,980 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in South Dakota, after federal taxes, FICA, and South Dakota state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $43,946 annually ($3,662/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Welder in South Dakota?

On a $51,980 salary in South Dakota, your take-home pay is approximately $43,946/year or $3,662/month. Federal tax: $4,058. State tax: $0. FICA: $3,976.

Is $51,980 a good Welder salary?

$51,980 is the BLS average Welder pay in South Dakota, 8% below the US average of $56,760 (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in South Dakota earn between $45,710 and $59,360.

How do South Dakota taxes affect Welder salaries?

South Dakota levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $51,980 is $0. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 15.5%.

What are the career growth prospects for Welders?

In South Dakota, the top 10% earn over $63,380 and the bottom 10% under $38,100 (BLS, May 2025). 2% growth through 2032 (slower than average) overall; pipeline + Permian rig + underwater + aerospace TIG specialty growing faster. Related roles include: Pipe Welder, Structural Welder, Rig Welder, Underwater Welder, Aerospace TIG Welder, Welding Inspector, Welding Supervisor.

How can a Welder in South Dakota reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Trades

Welder Salary in South Dakota (2026)

Average Welder pay in South Dakota

$51,980/year

≈ $25/hour before tax

Middle 50% earn $45,710–$59,360

US average: $56,760

Source: BLS, May 2025

After tax (single filer)

$43,946/year

$3,662/month · effective tax rate 15.46%

Federal $4,058
FICA $3,976
Take-home

Pay by role in South Dakota

Senior / Certified WelderBLS · 75th–90th percentile$59,360–$63,380
Welder (any sector)BLS · middle 50%$45,710–$59,360
ApprenticeBLS · 10th–25th percentile$38,100–$45,710

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$43,946
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$3,662
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$1,690
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$21/hr
Federal Tax	$4,058
State Tax	$0
FICA Taxes	$3,976
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	15.46%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Welders earn the same — not even close

South Dakota's welder market is anchored by POET LLC Sioux Falls (the largest US ethanol producer + the substantial POET ~30 ethanol plants across Midwest + the substantial POET ~3B gallons/yr corn-to-ethanol + the substantial POET stainless + sanitary welder + ASME BPE + the substantial POET fermentation tank + distillation column welder), Smithfield Foods Sioux Falls (the substantial Smithfield ~3K Sioux Falls employees + the substantial Smithfield pork processing largest US pork plant + the substantial Smithfield stainless + sanitary welder + the substantial 2020 COVID hotspot reform), Ellsworth AFB Rapid City (~7.5K Ellsworth AFB personnel + the substantial 28th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer + the substantial post-2027 B-21 Raider beddown + the substantial Ellsworth AFB B-21 infrastructure $3B+ modernization + the substantial Ellsworth AFB cleared welder + cleared facility + the substantial Ellsworth GSE), 3M Brookings (~1K 3M Brookings employees + the substantial 3M industrial welder), Raven Industries Sioux Falls (CNH Industrial post-2021 acquisition + the substantial Raven ag tech precision welder + the substantial Raven autonomous ag), Daktronics Brookings (the substantial Daktronics LED display + scoreboard manufacturing + the substantial Daktronics aluminum + steel welder + the substantial Daktronics SDSU heritage), CNH Industrial (post-2014 Fiat Industrial spinoff + the substantial CNH Case IH + New Holland ag equipment + the substantial CNH SD presence), plus substantial SD pipeline + structural + the substantial SDDOT bridge + the substantial Dakota Access Pipeline + the substantial SD-MN-IA cross-border ag-industrial welder.

Senior / Certified Welder

$59,360–$63,380

Pipeline welder · x-ray + 6G + API 1104 + Dakota Access Pipeline + the substantial SD midstream

Source: BLS May 2025 · Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers · South Dakota · 75th–90th percentile

Welder (any sector)

$45,710–$59,360

SD ag equipment welder + the substantial CNH Case IH + New Holland + the substantial SD ranch + farm fabrication

Source: BLS May 2025 · Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers · South Dakota · middle 50%

Apprentice

$38,100–$45,710

Entry welder apprentice · Southeast Tech + Western Dakota Tech + Lake Area Tech + Boilermakers Local 647 apprenticeship

Source: BLS May 2025 · Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers · South Dakota · 10th–25th percentile

Worth knowing: South Dakota's POET ethanol largest US producer + Smithfield Foods Sioux Falls + Ellsworth AFB B-1B + future B-21 + 3M + Daktronics + Raven Industries CNH ag tech welder concentration is a distinctive Northern Plains industrial + aerospace + food/ethanol welder cluster most national welder-career surveys understate. POET LLC Sioux Falls (the substantial POET ~30 ethanol plants across Midwest + the substantial POET ~3B gallons/yr corn-to-ethanol production + the substantial POET as the country's substantial largest US ethanol producer + the substantial POET Sioux Falls HQ + the substantial POET stainless + sanitary fermentation tank + distillation column welder + ASME BPE + GMP + the substantial POET post-2020 expansion + the substantial POET Biorefining bioprocess) supports specialized ethanol + bioprocess welder work — POET senior ethanol welders clear $58-92K + OT with ASME BPE + sanitary + GMP cert. Smithfield Foods Sioux Falls (~3K Smithfield Sioux Falls employees + the substantial Smithfield pork processing as the country's substantial largest US pork plant + the substantial Smithfield stainless + sanitary welder + the substantial Smithfield post-2020 COVID hotspot reform + the substantial Smithfield WH Group ownership + the substantial Smithfield ASME BPE + GMP) supports specialized food processing welder work. Ellsworth AFB Rapid City (~7.5K Ellsworth AFB personnel + the substantial 28th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer + the substantial 89th Attack Squadron + the substantial post-2027 B-21 Raider beddown + the substantial Ellsworth AFB selected as one of two B-21 main operating bases alongside Whiteman AFB MO + the substantial Ellsworth AFB $3B+ B-21 infrastructure modernization + the substantial Ellsworth AFB cleared welder + cleared facility + the substantial Ellsworth ground support equipment GSE) supports specialized aerospace cleared welder work — Ellsworth AFB senior aerospace welders clear $62-98K with AWS D17.1 aerospace + cleared facility access. 3M Brookings (~1K 3M Brookings employees + the substantial 3M industrial welder + the substantial 3M abrasives + adhesive manufacturing) + Daktronics Brookings (the substantial Daktronics LED display + scoreboard manufacturing + the substantial Daktronics SDSU + the substantial Daktronics aluminum + steel welder + the substantial Daktronics post-1968 founding) + Raven Industries Sioux Falls (CNH Industrial post-2021 acquisition + the substantial Raven ag tech precision welder + the substantial Raven autonomous ag + the substantial Raven Sioux Falls 1956 founding) support specialized industrial welder work. Boilermakers Local 647 Minneapolis MN cross-border + United Association Plumbers Pipefitters Local 565 Sioux Falls + IBEW Local 426 Sioux Falls + Ironworkers Local 512 Minneapolis MN cross-border + Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 Minneapolis MN cross-border + the substantial SD building trades operate substantial collective bargaining at SD industrial + ag-industrial prevailing wage rates — though SD IS a Right-to-Work state (signed 1946 + one of the very earliest US RTW states) limiting union security clauses, the substantial SD building trades retain prevailing-wage public works contracts. AWS Certified Welder + 6G + API 1104 + ASME Section IX + AWS D1.1 + AWS D17.1 aerospace + ASME BPE + GMP + cleared facility cert drive 30-60% wage premium. Southeast Tech + Western Dakota Tech + Lake Area Tech + Mitchell Tech + Boilermakers Local 647 apprenticeship pipeline. SD 0% income tax + SD 4.5% sales tax + SD NO estate tax + SD IS a Right-to-Work state anchor the SD welder proposition.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Welders in South Dakota and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and no state income tax (South Dakota levies none). Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Run your own numbers