---
title: "Crane Operator Programs in South Dakota: Pay & Tuition"
canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/south-dakota/
description: "Crane Operator pay in South Dakota: BLS average $70,560 (all experience levels), median $71,000, bottom 10% $58,370. 0 listed programs."
updated: 2026-11-03
wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15"
---

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4. South Dakota
 South Dakota

# Crane Operator programs in *South Dakota*

No crane operator programs are listed in South Dakota in the federal files we use yet, plus BLS pay data for the state and 1 metro area.

- **$70,560** Average pay (state, all experience levels)
- **$58,370** Entry-level / bottom 10%
- **$71,000** Median pay (state)
- **$93,600** Top 10% earn over

120 jobs in South Dakota · 0 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.

BLS wage data

## Crane Operator pay in South Dakota

Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.

| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| South Dakota | $58,370 | $61,080 | $71,000 | $77,450 | $93,600 | $70,560 | 120 |
| United States | $42,640 | $52,600 | $68,080 | $83,200 | $103,570 | $72,130 | 42,890 |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15.

### Metro areas

| Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $46,740 | $60,710 | $63,960 | $71,580 | $72,380 | $65,170 | 70 |
Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown.

Programs

## No listed programs yet

We found no school or registered sponsor for this trade in South Dakota in the IPEDS 2023-24 completions file or the DOL partner file. Programs in neighboring states may enroll out-of-state students; see the [national list](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/).

Related resources

## Keep researching

[**GI Bill heavy equipment operator schools** Schools approved for VA benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/heavy-equipment-operator/) [**CDL schools, if your crane job involves driving** Truck-mounted crane work on public roads can require a CDL; check the employer. · VerifiedCDLSchools.com](https://verifiedcdlschools.com/) [**Registered apprenticeships in South Dakota** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/sd/)

## Sources

- **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03.
- **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [53-7021.00 Crane and Tower Operators](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-7021.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0).
- **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)).
- **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)).
- **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)).

Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03.

---
Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/crane-operator/south-dakota/
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.