Phlebotomist in South Dakota: Salary, License Requirements, and How to Start

Allied healthcare

South Dakota employs 320 phlebotomists, with a statewide median of $39,560 and wide variation by city and experience. Here is the real wage data, the exact South Dakota licensing picture, and where to train.

What Phlebotomists Earn in South Dakota (May 2025)

Wages vary substantially by metro. Median annual pay for phlebotomists in major South Dakota markets:

What That Pay Is Worth in South Dakota

Prices in South Dakota run about 11% below the national average (cost-of-living index 88.6 vs a U.S. baseline of 100, 2024), so the $39,560 median stretches to roughly $44,650 in national buying-power terms.

Job Outlook in South Dakota (2024–2034)

South Dakota is projected to grow phlebotomists employment +13.8%, faster than the +5.6% projected nationally. The state expects about 50 openings a year, counting both growth and workers who retire or move on.

South Dakota License and Certification Requirements

No state license; national certification employer-preferred — regulated by the No South Dakota state license.

1. South Dakota does not license phlebotomists.
2. Complete a short phlebotomy program (weeks to a few months).
3. Earn a national certification (NHA CPT or ASCP PBT) that most labs and hospitals require.

Official requirements: No South Dakota state license →

Training in South Dakota

Quickest healthcare entry of all, and a common foot-in-the-door to hospital systems and other clinical roles.

Real training providers and registered apprenticeships in South Dakota include:

• South Dakota State University — Certificate
• Southeast Technical College — Certificate
• Western Dakota Technical College — Certificate

Where Phlebotomists Work in South Dakota

Real South Dakota hospitals that employ phlebotomists include:

• Sanford Usd Medical Center — Sioux Falls
• Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center — Sioux Falls
• V a Black Hills Health Care — Fort Meade
• Monument Health Rapid City Hospital — Rapid City
• Sioux Falls V a Medical Center — Sioux Falls
• Avera Sacred Heart Hospital — Yankton

Is This the Right Move for You?

Best for: People who want the fastest possible healthcare entry and are comfortable with needles, blood, and brief but frequent patient contact.

Think twice if: Repetitive patient draws all day, modest wages, and limited advancement without additional credentials sound like a dead end.

Why it's resilient: Blood collection requires in-person patient access, manual technique, and clinical safety protocols that cannot be automated.

First Steps

Enroll in a phlebotomy certificate program (typically 4–8 months) and check which certifications your state or target employer requires.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and Verification

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), South Dakota statewide and metro estimates for SOC 31-9097. Licensing summary compiled from the No South Dakota state license (2026-06-11). Requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and verify program costs and outcomes before enrolling.

BLS Occupational Outlook · O*NET South Dakota wages · South Dakota licensing/certification source

Employment projections: Projections Central / BLS Employment Projections (2024–2034); Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities; Employer lists from CMS Provider of Services, the FAA Part 145 directory, EIA Form 860, and USGS/state EMS registries (2026).

Pay percentiles describe current workers, not entry-level offers; training costs and local demand vary, so verify locally before committing money or quitting a job.