The medical assisting field is actually seeing some real benefits from a trifecta of factors that are hitting the state all at once and spiking demand for healthcare services, according to the South Dakota Department of Health: an aging patient population…an expanding general population…and an aging healthcare workforce. This type of environment has kept South Dakota’s healthcare sector growing at a steady clip, seeing to it that professional opportunities for medical assistants are holding strong.
According to the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation, there were 970 medical assistants working in the state in 2019; by 2021, this number is projected to increase by 4.1%, one of the fastest growth rates seen anywhere in the country during this two-year timeframe.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for medical assistants in South Dakota was $14.72, or $30,620 annually as of 2019. Gain a few years of experience and show a commitment to your profession by earning an industry-recognized professional certification and you’ll be among the state’s top earners who enjoyed an average hourly wage of $18.83, or $39,170 annually during this time.
Average Hourly Wages for Medical Assistants in South Dakota’s Metro Areas
The following BLS stats provide a glimpse into what medical assistants in the median – top 10% hourly wage range are earning in South Dakota’s largest metro areas:
- Rapid City: $15.74 – $19.64 (approximately 150 medical assistants)
- Sioux Falls: $14.19 – $18.27 (approximately 470 medical assistants)
Average Salaries for Medical Assistants in South Dakota’s Metro Areas
The BLS reported the following salary ranges (median – top 10%) for medical assistants in South Dakota’s largest metro areas:
- Rapid City: $32,730 – $40,850
- Sioux Falls: $29,510 – $38,000
US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for medical assistants represents state data not school-specific information.
2019 job growth projections from the South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation are aggregated through the U.S. Department of Labor-Sponsored resource, Projections Central.
Conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and employment data accessed May 2020.