Early Childhood Education Jobs in South Dakota

South Dakota’s swiftly expanding population means plenty of exciting opportunities for early childhood educators – despite the fact that this state is just one of a few in the nation without a state-funded preschool system.

South Dakota’s population has grown by more than 15,000 children since 1990, which means an abundance of professional opportunities in early childhood learning. And while a state-funded preschool system still hasn’t materialized here, there are many scholarship programs for families throughout South Dakota that may not qualify for the federally funded Head Start but don’t have the means to afford preschool tuition.

And there’s still more good news for early childhood educators in South Dakota – a bill in the South Dakota legislature seeks to establish an early learning advisory council that would conduct a statewide needs assessment for a future state-funded pre-k program.

Early Childhood Jobs in South Dakota

Salaries for early childhood educators in South Dakota are something to get excited about. Significant salary increases in the Mount Rushmore State in recent years have come about largely as a result of the Blue Ribbon task force and susequent legislation in 2016, and have allowed the state’s teachers to make a gradual climb toward higher salaries.

And while salaries among early childhood educators here still have a ways to go, state plans to continue this upward salary trajectory will allow South Dakota to become more regionally and nationally competitive, something that could help the state attract and retain even more talented and dedicated early childhood educators.

Occupation	Total Employed	Median Annual Salary	% of US Median
Childcare Workers	2,660	$21,330	77%
Child, Family, and School Social Workers	1,750	$40,030	80%
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	1,260	$30,860	90%
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	690	$43,760	69%
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education	640	$41,900	72%
Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare	100	$55,490	103%
= Salary below nat’l. avg.      = Salary above nat’l. avg.

Education administrators working in South Dakota’s preschools are among the top earners, with an average salary of $55,490, which works out to more than $2,000 above the national average.

Childcare Workers – There are 2,660 childcare workers in South Dakota. These professionals earn an average salary of $21,330. Jobs for South Dakota’s childcare workers are projected to increase by 9.9% through 2026 – that’s higher than the national projected growth rate of 7% for this occupation.

Child, Family, and School Social Workers – South Dakota’s 1,750 child, family, and school social workers earn an average of $40,030. Employment among child, family, and school social workers in South Dakota is projected to increase by 7.1% through 2026.

Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education – The state’s 640 kindergarten teachers earn an average salary of $41,900. The number of jobs among South Dakota’s kindergarten teachers is expected to increase by 6.1% through 2026.

Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education – The 1,460 preschool teachers in South Dakota earn an average salary of $30,860. There are more than twice the number of preschool teachers as kindergarten teachers here. In South Dakota, jobs for preschool teachers should rise by 13.1% through 2026, which is higher than the national projected growth rate of 10% for these early childhood educators.

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School – South Dakota’s 690 special education teachers in kindergarten and elementary school settings earn an average of $43,760. Steady job prospects lie ahead for these professionals, thanks to a projected job growth rate of 4.8% through 2026.

Education Administrators, Preschool and Childcare – There are 100 education administrators employed in South Dakota. These professionals earn an average salary of $55,490 – that’s $2,000 more than the national average. In South Dakota, jobs for education administrators in preschools are projected to increase by 11.1% through 2026, which is right in line with the national projected growth rate of 11% among these early childhood education professionals.

Special Education Teachers, Preschool – There are 50 special education teachers in preschool settings employed in South Dakota. These professionals earn $39,910 on average.

City-Level Job Stats

The top earners among South Dakota’s metro regions are kindergarten and elementary school special ed teachers in the Sioux City region, whose average salary is $53,500. However, education administrators in preschool and childcare settings in the Sioux Falls region are close behind, earning an average of $52,860.

Preschool Teachers

• Sioux Falls – 590 licensed teachers with an average salary of $30,800
• Rapid City – 190 licensed teachers with an average salary of $29,330
• Sioux City, IA-NE-SD – 140 licensed teachers with an average salary of $29,100

Kindergarten Teachers

• Sioux Falls – 190 licensed teachers with an average salary of $45,190
• Rapid City – 90 licensed teachers with an average salary of $41,550
• Sioux City, IA-NE-SD – 30 licensed teachers with an average salary of $46,650

Special Education Teachers – Kindergarten and Elementary School

• Sioux Falls – 200 licensed teachers with an average salary of $47,320
• Rapid City – 120 licensed teachers with an average salary of $44,710
• Sioux City, IA-NE-SD – 80 licensed teachers with an average salary of $53,500

Education Administrators – Preschool and Childcare

• Sioux Falls – 50 administrators with an average salary of $52,860
• Sioux City, IA-NE-SD – average salary of $45,880

2018 Occupational Employment Statistics sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) [salary data accessed April 2019] https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_sd.htm#25-0000

BLS salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.