How Much Does a Phlebotomist Make in South Dakota in 2026?

A typical Phlebotomist in South Dakota earns about $19.02 per hour ($39,560 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, that comes to roughly $3,297 a month and $761 a week, calculated from the annual figure. Actual pay varies by employer, shift, and location within the state.

That pay runs 13% below the national figure of $45,230 a year ($21.75 an hour), placing South Dakota 38th among the 51 states and D.C. tracked for this role. Around 320 phlebotomists work across the state, a small workforce compared with the national total of 143,540. Lower pay in South Dakota tends to track its lower cost of living relative to larger metro states.

Entry-level positions in South Dakota typically offer around $15.08 an hour, or about $31,360 a year, for phlebotomists just starting out. Pay tends to move up toward the typical $19.02-an-hour rate within the first few years on the job. Additional certifications or experience in higher-volume settings can speed that progression.

Experienced Phlebotomists in South Dakota often earn upwards of $20.72 an hour, translating to about $43,100 a year for those with more years on the job. The top 10% of earners make over $21.75 an hour, or $45,240 a year, typically in hospital or lab settings. That gap amounts to an entry-to-top spread of $13,880, shaped mainly by experience, employer type, and city.

South Dakota phlebotomist pay rose from $27,320 in 2016 to $39,560 in 2025, a gain of $12,240. That's a 45% increase over the decade, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). The climb was steady across most years, with the sharpest jumps coming between 2022 and 2024.

Nationally, phlebotomist pay climbed 43% over the same decade, just below South Dakota's rate of increase. Pay for the role has moved up steadily in both cases, though nothing in the record guarantees future gains. For someone starting out now, the trend points toward pay that has consistently outpaced its starting point over time.

Rapid City posts the highest phlebotomist pay in South Dakota, at $39,720 a year ($19.10 an hour), just above the state figure. Sioux Falls follows closely at $39,560 a year ($19.02 an hour). With only these two metro areas tracked, pay across South Dakota is fairly uniform rather than concentrated in one city.

Sioux Falls, the state's lowest-paying tracked city, is also home to the largest phlebotomist workforce, with 190 employed there compared with 40 in Rapid City. The gap between the two cities is just $160 a year, a small spread that reflects broadly similar living costs statewide. Figures for each city cover its full metro area, not just the city limits.

South Dakota's phlebotomist pay lags most of its neighbors. North Dakota pays 20% more at $47,430 a year, Minnesota pays 16% more at $46,000, and Montana pays 15% more at $45,470. Nebraska sits almost even at $39,540, while Iowa ($38,240) and Wyoming ($38,180) both run about 3% lower. Phlebotomy certification typically transfers or can be endorsed across state lines, so these pay gaps can factor into where someone chooses to work.

Phlebotomists in South Dakota typically earn $39,560 a year ($19.02 an hour), a figure that has climbed 45% over the past decade. Pay sits below the national figure but varies little by city within the state. Anyone pursuing this career should check South Dakota's phlebotomy certification and licensing requirements, and review city-level pages for Rapid City and Sioux Falls to compare local figures before deciding where to work.