Trade school programs in South Dakota

69 trade school programs in 18 fields of skilled trades, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

9 schools offer these programs, and South Dakota has approved every one for workforce funding. Compare the 18 fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

Trade school programs teach hands-on work with tools, machines and building systems. That runs from building work like carpentry, plumbing and electrical, through repairing cars, diesel trucks, heating and cooling systems and factory machinery, to welding, sheet metal, masonry, auto body repair, CNC machining, manufacturing and electronics work, solar and wind installation, water treatment, workplace safety, running heavy equipment and cranes, and inspecting homes. Most are certificates; some are two-year degrees or apprenticeships.

All job training programs in South Dakota, every line of work

Trade school programs by state, to compare South Dakota with other states

Compare trade school programs in South Dakota: cost, pay and results

Welding classes
15 programs at 6 schools
Most cost
$2,724 to $13,166
Earned a year, estimated
about $42,000
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
78%
Construction training programs
7 programs at 4 schools
Most cost
$1,912 to $16,142
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
HVAC training (heating and cooling)
5 programs at 4 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
CNC machinist training
5 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
$4,320 to $19,448
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Diesel mechanic training
5 programs at 3 schools
Most cost
$16,073 to $18,304
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Industrial maintenance technician training
5 programs at 4 schools
Most cost
$16,088 to $18,883
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Electrician training
4 programs at 4 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Plumbing school
4 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data
Auto mechanic classes
3 programs at 3 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Electronics technician training
3 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data
Auto body repair classes
3 programs at 2 schools
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Heavy equipment operator training
2 programs at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Lineman school (power line work)
2 programs at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Manufacturing technician training
2 programs at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Carpentry classes
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
AutoCAD and drafting courses (computer-aided design)
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
Working 6 months later
Left out
Finished
Not enough data
Home inspector training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not reported
Solar and wind technician training
1 program at one school
Most cost
Not enough data
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Working 6 months later
Not reported
Finished
Not enough data

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in South Dakota may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free trade school in South Dakota?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most welding programs in South Dakota cost $2,724 to $13,166, and most diesel mechanic programs $16,073 to $18,304. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Other job training in South Dakota, by line of work

Programs approved in South Dakota in each line of work.

Where the South Dakota trade school numbers come from

Which South Dakota programs are counted?

Programs South Dakota approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) in the fields listed above. Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what South Dakota offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

How reliable are the South Dakota figures?

We leave out the share working 6 months later for South Dakota: its rates sit far below every other state's.

Sources for the funding facts about trade school programs in South Dakota

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services