The 9,670 registered nurses working in South Dakota nursing careers as of May 2007 made an average annual wage of $50,830, which works out to $24.44 per hour. While this is a bit lower than the national average for registered nurses, the cost of living in most areas of South Dakota is rather affordable, and South Dakota nursing jobs pay much more than the average annual wage for working in South Dakota across industries, which was $31,540 ($15.16 per hour) in May of 2007. This information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics for May 2007 and shows that South Dakota nurses enjoy a good standard of living and significantly higher than average earnings in this state.
Prospective nursing students considering South Dakota nursing programs can rest assured that the nursing industry in South Dakota, and across the nation, has a strong future with an ever increasing demand for registered nurses. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-2009 Edition, the nursing industry is currently experiencing one of the fastest growth rates of any industry in the nation. This report projects that the field of nursing will expand by 23% between 2006 and 2016, which will mean an additional 587,000 registered nursing jobs over the next few years. This projected growth is a result of the increasing demand for health care professionals as the nation’s population grows and ages, current registered nurses begin to retire, and the health care industry continues to move towards better utilizing the skills of nurses to provide services to patients and keep health care costs down.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports that employment opportunities will be the most abundant for registered nurses holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, current or prospective nursing students may want to consider this as they consider South Dakota nursing programs.