Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in South Dakota

Wages, programs & career outlook

Industrial machinery mechanics (millwrights and maintenance mechanics) keep factory equipment running — production lines, conveyors, pumps, robotic cells, and packaging machines. It's heavy diagnostic work with downtime pressure: a stopped line costs money every minute.

SD Median Salary
$59,690/yr
-6% vs. national
National Median
$63,760/yr
SD Employment
1,270
Industrial Machinery Mechanics employed
SD Sponsors
0
Registered programs
Training Term
4.0 yrs
Time-Based
Job Growth
16.1%
2024–2034 projected
Annual Openings
45,700
Nationally, per yr

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in South Dakota: Quick Facts

What apprenticeship means here

A registered industrial machinery mechanic apprenticeship in South Dakota combines paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Programs typically run 4.0 years and follow a time-based structure. You earn wages from day one — apprentices are employees, not students.

South Dakota pay vs. national

Median industrial machinery mechanic wages in South Dakota are $59,690/year, -6% below the national median of $63,760. Wages scale with experience — journey-level workers earn substantially more than apprentices.

Where to find programs

South Dakota has 0 registered apprenticeship sponsors for industrial machinery mechanic listed in the U.S. Department of Labor's apprenticeship.gov directory. The sponsor list further down includes joint labor-management programs (JATCs), individual employers, and contractor associations.

Job-market outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16.1% job growth for industrial machinery mechanics nationally between 2024 and 2034, with approximately 45,700 annual openings each year (replacement plus growth combined). Apprenticeship demand tends to track local construction and infrastructure spending — South Dakota-specific outlook can vary from national figures.

South Dakota Wage Spread

Annual wages for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in South Dakota across all experience levels.

10th pct
$47,240
Median
$59,690
90th pct
$75,830
Middle 50% of workers earn $50,990$64,740

Current Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Openings in South Dakota

No industrial machinery mechanic apprenticeship openings are currently listed on apprenticeship.gov for South Dakota. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't included in the national directory. Consider setting up an alert on apprenticeship.gov to be notified when new listings are posted.

Listings aggregated from apprenticeship.gov (US Dept. of Labor). Data refreshed daily.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship Sponsors in South Dakota

Our directory doesn't surface Industrial Machinery Mechanic-specific registered sponsors in South Dakota. This usually reflects a smaller regional market where sponsors use generic company names rather than trade-specific branding — it doesn't mean programs don't exist. Direct search on apprenticeship.gov is the most reliable way to find current openings.

Search apprenticeship.gov for current Industrial Machinery Mechanic openings

Filter by occupation code 49-9041 and state SD for the most relevant results.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic Apprenticeship in South Dakota

South Dakota has a smaller Industrial Machinery Mechanic industry, and our directory doesn't surface trade-specific registered sponsors for this state. That doesn't mean programs don't exist — smaller regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name alone. Search apprenticeship.gov for current openings, or contact your state apprenticeship agency and the relevant national union (IUEC, IBEW, UA, SMART, etc.) for referrals to nearby programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Industrial Machinery Mechanics earn in South Dakota?
The BLS reports a median wage of $59,690/yr for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in South Dakota (May 2024 data). Experience, union membership, and specialization all affect where you fall in the range.
How long is an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship?
A typical Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship lasts approximately 4 years (8,000 hours of on-the-job training). The program combines paid work experience with related classroom instruction.
Should I do an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship or go to trade school?
Apprenticeships offer paid training with no tuition, while trade school requires upfront costs but may be shorter. Many Industrial Machinery Mechanics combine both — starting with trade school basics before entering an apprenticeship.
Where can I apply for an Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprenticeship in South Dakota?
We don't have Industrial Machinery Mechanic-identified sponsors listed in South Dakota, but that doesn't mean programs don't exist — small regional contractors often aren't identifiable by name. Start with apprenticeship.gov's job finder (filter by occupation and ZIP), then contact nearby-state IUEC/IBEW/UA/SMART locals if nothing shows up locally.
How much do Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprentices earn?
Apprentices are paid employees from the start. In South Dakota, a first-year Industrial Machinery Mechanic apprentice might earn around $29,845/yr (roughly half the $59,690 journeyman median), with scheduled raises throughout the 4-year program.

Prefer Trade School Instead?

Apprenticeships pay from day one, but the classroom-first path may fit better for some. Industrial Machinery Mechanics also train through trade school programs — shorter timeline, more upfront cost.

Compare 66 Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies programs nationwide →
Too few South Dakota-based programs to compare locally — see the national list and filter.

Industrial Machinery Mechanic in Other States

Other Apprenticeships in South Dakota

Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024, DOL RAPIDS Registered Apprenticeship database, ApprenticeshipUSA Sponsor Directory.