These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In South Dakota

Top 10 Hardest Working Places in South Dakota (2026)

South Dakota, a state rich in opportunity, continues to exemplify the American spirit of hard work and determination. In 2026, as the job market evolves with advancements in technology and changing work patterns, the commitment of its residents to their jobs remains unwavering. However, some areas within the Mount Rushmore State stand out for their exceptional work ethic, earning the title of the hardest working places in South Dakota.

Leading this industrious pack is Harrisburg, a community that has carved out a reputation for its relentless work ethicâ€”so much so that commuting itself feels like a full-time job.

Curious about which other towns are burning the midnight oil to secure their financial futures? Here are the top contenders in South Dakota where hard work truly pays off:

Attention Pine Ridge: this ranking offers valuable insights into what the rest of the state is doing right. Embrace the lessons learned as we unveil the details behind this analysis.

For more insights into South Dakota’s job market, check out:

The 100 Largest Companies in South Dakota
The 100 Highest Paying Jobs in South Dakota

How We Determined the Hardest Working Places in the Mount Rushmore State

At Zippia, we take a data-driven approach to tackle tough questions. For this analysis, we utilized the most recent American Community Survey data to identify the hardest working towns in South Dakota.

After sifting through a plethora of criteria, we focused on the following metrics for our ranking:

Average hours worked per week
Average commute time
Workers per household (employed labor force divided by the number of households)
Labor force participation rate
Percentage of adults with a college degree

The rationale behind our criteria is straightforward: those who invest years in education, actively seek employment, and dedicate long hours at work deserve recognition in our hardworking index.

After compiling data from all 43 areas in South Dakota, we ranked each location based on the outlined criteria, averaging the results to create our hardworking index. The area with the lowest score earned the title of the “Hardest Working Place in South Dakota,” and it was Harrisburg that rose to the occasion.

Explore the detailed chart below to discover the factors influencing each area’s ranking.

1. Harrisburg

Population: 4,678 College Graduates: 36.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 41.2
Workers Per Household: 1.8

2. Tea

Population: 4,226 College Graduates: 35.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.9
Workers Per Household: 1.7

3. Colonial Pine Hills

Population: 2,328 College Graduates: 48.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 36.9
Workers Per Household: 1.7

4. Dakota Dunes

Population: 2,895 College Graduates: 56.1%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 42.7
Workers Per Household: 1.4

5. Beresford

Population: 2,411 College Graduates: 29.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.8
Workers Per Household: 1.3

6. Summerset

Population: 2,240 College Graduates: 28.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 43.2
Workers Per Household: 1.7

7. Brandon

Population: 9,350 College Graduates: 31.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.1
Workers Per Household: 1.6

8. Pierre

Population: 13,885 College Graduates: 33.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.5
Workers Per Household: 1.4

9. Volga

Population: 2,259 College Graduates: 28.0%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.7
Workers Per Household: 1.6

10. Canton

Population: 3,218 College Graduates: 27.8%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 40.3
Workers Per Household: 1.5

Detailed List of Hardest Working Places in South Dakota

City	Rank	Population	College Graduates	Average Hours Worked Per Week	Workers Per Household
Harrisburg	1	4,678	36.3%	41.2	1.8
Tea	2	4,226	35.2%	39.9	1.7
Colonial Pine Hills	3	2,328	48.2%	36.9	1.7
Dakota Dunes	4	2,895	56.1%	42.7	1.4
Beresford	5	2,411	29.3%	39.8	1.3
Summerset	6	2,240	28.3%	43.2	1.7
Brandon	7	9,350	31.6%	39.1	1.6
Pierre	8	13,885	33.2%	39.5	1.4
Volga	9	2,259	28.0%	39.7	1.6
Canton	10	3,218	27.8%	40.3	1.5
Fort Pierre	11	2,322	26.9%	41.6	1.4
Blackhawk	12	2,754	24.2%	38.1	1.6
Elk Point	13	2,075	28.8%	39.8	1.3
Dell Rapids	14	3,687	27.7%	39.5	1.5
Hartford	15	2,781	29.1%	38.6	1.7
Sioux Falls	16	160,964	32.5%	38.9	1.5
Brookings	17	22,645	48.5%	34.2	1.6
Rapid Valley	18	8,619	18.0%	39.5	1.7
Box Elder	19	8,683	17.5%	40.2	1.7
Winner	20	2,871	22.9%	41.0	1.2
Spearfish	21	10,836	31.5%	37.9	1.3
North Sioux City	22	2,551	24.5%	43.3	1.3
Lennox	23	2,155	22.6%	39.6	1.2
Vermillion	24	10,697	48.2%	31.3	1.5
Aberdeen	25	26,979	26.5%	38.2	1.3
Belle Fourche	26	5,677	15.3%	39.7	1.3
Rapid City	27	70,126	29.2%	38.5	1.3
Madison	28	6,830	27.1%	37.6	1.5
Watertown	29	21,795	20.6%	39.4	1.3
Mitchell	30	15,490	26.9%	38.7	1.2
Yankton	31	14,513	28.3%	37.6	1.3
Redfield	32	2,583	17.8%	38.6	1.1
Huron	33	12,982	20.8%	38.7	1.2
Chamberlain	34	2,660	22.5%	39.0	1.3
Hot Springs	35	3,565	22.7%	38.0	1.0
Sturgis	36	6,652	17.4%	38.4	1.1
Mobridge	37	3,293	24.0%	41.3	1.1
Lead	38	3,097	24.1%	41.1	1.1
Flandreau	39	2,088	26.4%	39.4	1.1
Milbank	40	3,310	18.3%	38.9	1.2
Sisseton	41	2,597	17.3%	37.7	1.3
North Eagle Butte	42	2,083	12.3%	36.6	1.6
Pine Ridge	43	3,329	15.9%	37.6	1.4

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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