State
Businesses in South Dakota by trade
29,106 employer establishments in 2023, employing 383,805 people (+7.4% establishments since 2017).
SOUTH DAKOTA · ALL INDUSTRIES
29,106
establishments with paid employees
- Employees
- 383,805
- Average per site
- 13.2
- Change since 2017
- +7.4%
- Annual payroll
- $20.7 billion
The 12 trades in South Dakota
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 675 | 12,327 | −4.5% | 47 |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 265 | 2,771 | +56.8% | 46 |
| Beauty salons | 160 | 790 | −9.6% | 47 |
| Barber shops | 8 | 15 | 0.0% | 49 |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 401 | 4,356 | +6.4% | 45 |
| Roofing contractors | 105 | 519 | +31.2% | 41 |
| Landscaping services | 376 | 1,460 | +32.9% | 47 |
| Janitorial services | 270 | 2,556 | +28.0% | 45 |
| Child day care | 280 | 4,004 | +8.1% | 46 |
| General auto repair | 396 | 1,667 | +15.5% | 43 |
| Fitness centers | 114 | 1,846 | −4.2% | 46 |
| Pet care services | 85 | 460 | +60.4% | 44 |
Largest industry groups in South Dakota
The twelve three-digit NAICS groups with the most employer establishments.
| Industry group | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 2,334 | 15,754 | +11.3% |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,214 | 14,227 | +12.5% |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | 2,060 | 33,640 | +9.2% |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 1,652 | 21,960 | +20.4% |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 1,370 | 7,635 | +0.9% |
| Construction of Buildings | 1,220 | 6,059 | +16.0% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 1,219 | 11,801 | +16.9% |
| Real Estate | 1,201 | 3,536 | +22.3% |
| Repair and Maintenance | 1,037 | 4,751 | +10.4% |
| Truck Transportation | 947 | 5,325 | +4.2% |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | 923 | 7,109 | +2.1% |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | 763 | 9,358 | +6.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.