South Dakota employs 30 Power Plant Operators professionals, below the national average concentration.
Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • South Dakota employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06
The location quotient (LQ) of 0.05 indicates that South Dakota has a below-average concentration of Power Plant Operators professionals. This may suggest fewer local opportunities compared to other states, though national trends should also be considered.
Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.
The average annual salary for a Power Plant Operators in South Dakota is $95,980. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.
South Dakota employs approximately 30 Power Plant Operators professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks South Dakota for this occupation nationwide.
South Dakota has average or below-average concentration of Power Plant Operators jobs (LQ: 0.05). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.
The average (mean) salary for Power Plant Operators in South Dakota is $95980/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.
Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.
The top state for Power Plant Operators employment is Texas with 3,170 jobs.
Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Power Plant Operators (SOC 518013) in South Dakota.