In South Dakota, the state won’t issue and require an HVAC license for you to provide HVAC services.
Instead, respective localities will oversee the application for licenses.
On this page, you’ll learn important information before you can work as an HVAC technician or contractor in South Dakota.
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HVAC Programs in South Dakota
Before anything else, you must complete an approved HVAC program from an accredited school.
In this way, you can obtain the fundamental knowledge and skills, as well as field training and experience needed for employment.
Check out the table below for a list of schools offering HVAC programs in South Dakota.
5 HVAC Schools in South Dakota
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Ashworth College | 6625 The Corners Pkwy NW #500, Norcross, GA 30092 |
| hvacredu.net (Online Training) | P.O. Box 77, Heron, MT 59844 |
| Lake Area Technical Institute | 230 11th Street NE, Watertown, SD 57201 |
| Mitchell Technical Institute | 821 N. Capital Street, Mitchell, SD 57301 |
| SouthEast Technical Institute | 2320 Career Place, Sioux Falls, SD 57107 |
EPA Certification
The federal law stipulates that technicians who work with refrigerants must acquire EPA Section 608 Technician Certification.
Here, you can get any one of the 4 certification types depending on the equipment you’ll work with the most.
To learn which type you must get, check out our guide to the EPA certification.
Local-level Licensing
As mentioned, there won’t be a state-level HVAC license but a local-level license.
For example, Sioux Falls requires contractors to have a…
- Mechanical contractor license for mechanical and HVAC work
- Refrigeration contractor license for refrigeration and coolant work
Do note that not all localities may require a license.
So it’s recommended that you check the locality where you’ll be working if they have special requirements.
Potential Salary
The job market in the HVAC industry gets more and more competitive each year.
According to BLS (May 2021), HVAC technicians in South Dakota can earn an annual salary of…
- Mean wage – $48,400
- Entry-level (low 10%) – $35,680
- Experts (top 10%) – $62,000
Below, you’ll find the salaries in 10 of South Dakota’s cities.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of HVAC Techs in South Dakota
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $40,953 |
| Rapid City | $40,555 |
| Aberdeen | $38,083 |
| Watertown | $40,252 |
| Brookings | $40,252 |
| Mitchell | $40,252 |
| Pierre | $38,784 |
| Yankton | $39,354 |
| Huron | $39,168 |
| Vermillion | $38,457 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 220 | $57,450 | $27.62 | $74,820 | $39,910 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 490 | $58,840 | $28.29 | $79,980 | $39,020 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
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