Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
South Dakota employs 45,230 Food Preparation & Serving professionals across 14 occupations. Explore salary ranges, top paying jobs, and career opportunities within the Food Preparation & Serving industry.
The best-compensated occupations within Food Preparation & Serving in South Dakota, based on median salary data.
Complete breakdown of all occupations in the Food Preparation & Serving industry in South Dakota, sorted by median salary (highest to lowest). Click any job title for state-specific salary details.
| # | Job Title | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,470 | $47,900 | 300 | $23/hr |
| 2 | First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,640 | $42,530 | 2,920 | $19/hr |
| 3 | Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,730 | $37,630 | 2,120 | $17/hr |
| 4 | Cooks, Restaurant | $36,220 | $36,720 | 1,890 | $17/hr |
| 5 | Cooks, Short Order | $32,380 | $34,180 | 2,000 | $15/hr |
| 6 | Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,980 | $32,870 | 160 | $15/hr |
| 7 | Cooks, Fast Food | $30,950 | $31,230 | 1,720 | $14/hr |
| 8 | Food Preparation Workers | $30,430 | $31,630 | 3,270 | $14/hr |
| 9 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,310 | $31,000 | 630 | $14/hr |
| 10 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,920 | $31,550 | 2,550 | $14/hr |
| 11 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,490 | $30,900 | 15,150 | $14/hr |
| 12 | Bartenders | $29,400 | $31,940 | 3,930 | $14/hr |
| 13 | Waiters and Waitresses | $28,990 | $30,860 | 7,350 | $13/hr |
| 14 | Dishwashers | $28,190 | $29,220 | 1,240 | $13/hr |
Explore salary data and job opportunities in other industries across South Dakota:
South Dakota has 14 Food Preparation & Serving occupations with 45,230 total employed workers (2025 BLS data).
The highest-paying Food Preparation & Serving occupation in South Dakota is Chefs and Head Cooks with a median salary of $48,470/year.
The average median salary across 14 Food Preparation & Serving occupations in South Dakota is $33,150/year.
Salaries in Food Preparation & Serving in South Dakota range from $24,230 (entry-level) to $57,820 (senior) across all occupations.
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes organize jobs into groups. Food Preparation & Serving occupations use SOC prefix 35. Data comes from BLS OEWS.
Data: BLS OEWS 2025. Salary figures represent May 2025 compensation for occupations classified under SOC code 35* in South Dakota. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) reflect the lowest and highest earning 10% of workers. Our Methodology · Data Sources