South Dakota hospitals' own reports to Medicare
What hospitals in South Dakota pay nurses per hour
15 South Dakota hospitals' average hourly wages for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nursing aides (in 2022 pay periods, staff and contract nurses together, before benefits), the highest RN average first, with the employers hiring on this site.
Every South Dakota hospital
Highest registered nurse average first. An employer hiring on this site opens its page and its jobs.
| Hospital | RN | LPN | Nursing aide | Hiring here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monument Health Rapid City HospitalRapid City, SD | $63.16 | $40.55 | $26.36 | Monument Health |
| Sanford Medical Center AberdeenAberdeen, SD | $50.86 | $24.59 | $22.31 | Sanford Health |
| Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health CenterSioux Falls, SD | $49.20 | $28.10 | $24.08 | Avera Health |
| Avera St Mary's HospitalPierre, SD | $49.09 | $28.08 | $22.32 | Avera Health |
| Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, IncWatertown, SD | $46.12 | $29.01 | $19.03 | Not on this site |
| Black Hills Surgical Hospital LLCRapid City, SD | $44.97 | $39.85 | $22.50 | Sanford Health |
| Avera Heart Hospital of South DakotaSioux Falls, SD | $44.36 | $30.91 | $23.81 | Not on this site |
| Monument Health Spearfish HospitalSpearfish, SD | $43.91 | $32.69 | $21.50 | Monument Health |
| Same Day Surgery Center LLCRapid City, SD | $43.69 | $28.52 | $18.81 | Not on this site |
| Sanford Usd Medical CenterSioux Falls, SD | $41.47 | $24.20 | $22.30 | Sanford Health |
| Sioux Falls Specialty HospitalSioux Falls, SD | $40.20 | $28.04 | $21.65 | Not on this site |
| Avera Sacred Heart HospitalYankton, SD | $40.04 | $28.31 | $22.87 | Avera Health |
| Avera St LukesAberdeen, SD | $39.95 | $28.83 | $25.04 | Avera Health |
| Dunes Surgical HospitalDakota Dunes, SD | $35.74 | $25.46 | $23.96 | United Surgical Partners International |
| Brookings Health SystemBrookings, SD | $35.67 | $24.50 | $17.48 | Not on this site |
What hospitals in South Dakota pay nurses per hour: common questions
What do hospitals in South Dakota pay nurses per hour?
By the South Dakota hospitals' own reports to Medicare (in 2022 pay periods, staff and contract nurses together, before benefits), registered nurse hours averaged $48.45 an hour, licensed practical nurse hours $28.93 an hour and nursing aide hours $23.95 an hour, over 15 hospitals (the middle hospital $43.91 an hour for RNs). The highest RN averages: Monument Health Rapid City Hospital in Rapid City ($63.16), Sanford Medical Center Aberdeen in Aberdeen ($50.86), Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls ($49.20), Avera St Mary's Hospital in Pierre ($49.09). Every South Dakota hospital.
Which hospitals hiring nurses in South Dakota pay the most?
Of the hospitals of the employers hiring on this site in South Dakota, the highest registered nurse averages: Monument Health Rapid City Hospital in Rapid City ($63.16, Monument Health); Sanford Medical Center Aberdeen in Aberdeen ($50.86, Sanford Health); Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls ($49.20, Avera Health); Avera St Mary's Hospital in Pierre ($49.09, Avera Health); Black Hills Surgical Hospital LLC in Rapid City ($44.97, Sanford Health). A high average can also mean many travel nurses that year.
Which hospitals in South Dakota pay LPNs and nursing aides the most?
Licensed practical nurse hours: Monument Health Rapid City Hospital ($40.55), Black Hills Surgical Hospital LLC ($39.85), Monument Health Spearfish Hospital ($32.69). Nursing aide hours: Monument Health Rapid City Hospital ($26.36), Avera St Lukes ($25.04), Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center ($24.08). South Dakota's hospitals together: LPN $28.93 an hour, nursing aide $23.95 an hour.
How does South Dakota compare with the national average?
South Dakota's hospitals averaged $48.45 an hour per registered nurse hour against $60.42 an hour across all US hospitals, in 2022 pay periods, staff and contract nurses together, before benefits. Every state.
Sources and method
Each hospital's survey wages over its paid hours for the category, its own and contract staff together, before benefits; the state's over all its hospitals' hours. Critical access hospitals do not report. Read 9 Nov 2026. Every state.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare wage index occupational mix survey (FY 2027 April public use file)
Cite this page
CareJobs.Now. (2026). What hospitals in South Dakota pay nurses per hour. Data as of 9 Nov 2026. https://carejobs.now/hospital-nurse-pay/south-dakota