Women in South Dakota: Pay, Representation, and Firsts
Everything the data says about women in South Dakota — pay, legislature representation, historical firsts, and how the state ranks against the rest of the US.
Where South Dakota sits
Women in South Dakota earn 78.8 cents for every dollar men earn — a gap of 21.2%. That puts South Dakota #40 out of the 51 US jurisdictions on pay equity. The women-in-legislature figure of 27.6% ranks South Dakota #36 nationally.
Notable firsts & figures
Kristi Noem (2019-present) — first woman governor.
- No woman US Senator yet elected from South Dakota.
- First woman governor: 2019
- Largest city: Sioux Falls
Professions in South Dakota
State-adjusted pay and gap figures for women in 20 common professions in South Dakota. Each page combines national BLS medians with South Dakota’s Census ACS wage environment.
Fields in South Dakota
Related national data
Frequently asked
What is the gender pay gap in South Dakota?
Women in South Dakota earn 78.8% of what men earn — a gap of 21.2%. Census ACS S2001 data.
How many women are in South Dakota’s state legislature?
27.6% of South Dakota state legislators are women — rank #36 nationally among 51 US jurisdictions (CAWP 2024).
Has South Dakota elected a woman governor?
Yes — the first woman governor of South Dakota took office in 2019.
Has South Dakota elected a woman US Senator?
No — South Dakota has never elected a woman US Senator.
How many women does South Dakota send to Congress?
1 women from South Dakota serve in the 119th US Congress (House + Senate, 2025-27).