The 10 Lowest Paying Jobs In South Dakota For 2026

Reflecting on my high school days, I remember my favorite job at the local movie theater, where I earned minimum wage along with free popcorn and movie tickets. Back then, making $5.86 an hour felt acceptable. However, in today’s economic landscape, it’s hard to envision living on such a low wage.

This nostalgia led me to explore which professions currently offer the lowest pay in South Dakota.

Building upon our previous research into the highest paying jobs in South Dakota, we utilized the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to uncover the lowest paying roles as of 2026.

Our analysis revealed that Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants remain the lowest compensated positions in South Dakota.

Here’s a current overview of the 10 lowest paying jobs in South Dakota:

For further insights into these low-paying jobs, continue reading, or explore additional resources about the South Dakota job market:

How We Determined the Lowest Paid Jobs in South Dakota

We analyzed the BLS dataset, which covers all job classifications in South Dakota, to pinpoint the positions that offer the lowest compensation.

We will continue to update this data annually as new information becomes available from the BLS. The latest data is as of May 2026.

Detailed List Of The Lowest Paying Jobs In South Dakota

Rank	Job Title	Average Salary	Entry Level Salary	# Of People
1	Locker Room, Coatroom, And Dressing Room Attendants	$20,160	$18,640	40
2	Childcare Workers	$21,330	$18,850	2,660
3	Dishwashers	$21,340	$18,840	1,990
4	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, And Ticket Takers	$21,500	$18,870	320
5	Hosts And Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, And Coffee Shop	$21,670	$18,800	670
6	Amusement And Recreation Attendants	$21,670	$19,000	1,400
7	Dining Room And Cafeteria Attendants And Bartender Helpers	$21,820	$19,030	2,720
8	Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, And Coffee Shop	$21,860	$18,850	4,010
9	Combined Food Preparation And Serving Workers, Including Fast Food	$21,910	$19,030	8,860
10	Waiters And Waitresses	$21,930	$18,810	7,540

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

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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