South Dakota Manufacturing Facts

Manufacturers in South Dakota account for 8.27% of the total output in the state, employing 10.18% of the workforce. Total output from manufacturing was $4.96 billion in 2021. In addition, there were an average of 44,000 manufacturing employees in South Dakota in December 2021, with an average annual compensation of $66,842.06 in 2021.

Manufacturing Output and Firms

Total Manufacturing Output ($billions, 2021)
$4.96
(Percent share of total gross state product)
8.27%
Manufacturing Firms in South Dakota (2019)
929

Employment and Compensation

Manufacturing Employment (December 2021)
44,000
(Percent share of nonfarm employment)
10.18%
Average Annual Compensation (Manufacturing, 2021)
$66,842.06
(Nonfarm Businesses, 2021)
$48,290.76

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau

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South Dakota Export Facts

Manufacturers help to drive the South Dakota economy, with $1.73 billion in manufactured goods exports in 2021.

Manufacturing Exports

Manufactured Goods Exports ($billions, 2021)
$1.73
Top 5 Export Markets (total percentage 2021)
78.00%
Canada
39.66%
Mexico
22.47%
China
6.64%
Japan
6.01%
South Korea
3.22%

Sources: International Trade Administration, U.S. Census Bureau

Figure 4

Additional Trade Facts

  • The 20 U.S. FTA partners purchased 49.38% ($690.92 billion) of U.S. manufactured goods exports in 2021 – even though these countries represent only six percent of the world’s population and 10 percent of GDP.
  • FTA countries: Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Peru, Singapore and South Korea.