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States › South Dakota

State enforcement profile · #42 of 56 by penalties · AT/BELOW-US

South Dakota — lower-penalty enforcement profile

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), South Dakota has 675 employers in the federal enforcement record, with 901 OSHA inspections and $5.9M in penalties assessed. The state's Wage and Hour Division has recovered $4.8M in back wages across 363 enforcement cases.

675
Employers
901
Inspections
$5.9M
OSHA penalties
$4.8M
Back wages

The state in one line

South Dakota ranks #42 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 1,901 violations cited across 901 inspections and $4.8M in wages recovered for workers.

#42
of 56 states by penalties
2.11
violations per inspection
$9K
avg penalty per employer
363
WHD wage-theft cases

This rank counts 41% of the penalty dollars recorded for South Dakota: only employers with at least two OSHA inspections or $1,000 or more in Wage & Hour back wages. On every recorded penalty dollar it would rank #46 of 56.

OSHA citation docket

State IMIS book SD · South Dakota AT/BELOW-US · MID-PPE

#42/56 · 901 insp · $5.9M

  • BOOK 675 employers
  • INSP 901 inspections
  • RANK #42 of 56
  • PEN $5.9M
  • RATE 2.11 viol/insp
  • VS-US AT/BELOW-US
  • WHD $4.8M
  • PHOTO District of Columbia

Nearest employer-book peer: District of Columbia ($2.7M penalty gap)

South Dakota ranks #42 of 56 U.S. jurisdictions by total OSHA penalties, with 1,901 violations cited across 901 inspections and $4.8M in wages recovered for workers. OSHA IMIS + DOL WHD citation stamps for this jurisdiction. Read with this state → · Worst-cited employer → · Similar-footprint state → · Compare employers →

South Dakota in the OSHA-penalty neighbourhood

Total assessed OSHA penalties among this state and nearest employer-book peers

penalties

What this shows South Dakota carries $5.9M in assessed OSHA penalties, ranked #42 of 56 jurisdictions.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

Where South Dakota ranks nationally

Average OSHA penalty per tracked employer, vs all 56 U.S. jurisdictions

$8,796 Top 23% most affordable more affordable than 77% of 56 U.S. jurisdictions

$0–$2,000: 5 U.S. jurisdictions (9%). Below this entry. $2,000–$4,000: 9 U.S. jurisdictions (16%). Below this entry. $4,000–$6,000: 17 U.S. jurisdictions (30%). Below this entry. $6,000–$8,000: 10 U.S. jurisdictions (18%). Below this entry. $8,000–$10,000: 5 U.S. jurisdictions (9%). This entry sits in this band. $10,000–$12,000: 4 U.S. jurisdictions (7%). Above this entry. $12,000–$14,000: 2 U.S. jurisdictions (4%). Above this entry. $14,000–$16,000: 3 U.S. jurisdictions (5%). Above this entry. $16,000–$18,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. $18,000–$20,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. $20,000–$22,000: 1 U.S. jurisdictions (2%). Above this entry. $22,000–$24,000: 0 U.S. jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. South Dakota $0 $24,000 every U.S. jurisdiction, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $2K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. jurisdictions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts · 2026

Do more violations mean harsher penalties?

Each dot is one of the 56 U.S. jurisdictions with both violation and penalty data, placed by total violations cited and the average current penalty per violation. The highlighted dot is South Dakota.

High volume, high penaltyLow volume, high penaltyHigh volume, low penaltyBelow median on both020897.041793.962690.983587.9$26.7$1330.4$2634.1$3937.8$5241.6Total violations citedAverage penalty per violationCalifornia, Total violations cited: 62917 · Average penalty per violation: $1931.91New Jersey, Total violations cited: 51588 · Average penalty per violation: $2257.14Texas, Total violations cited: 37481 · Average penalty per violation: $3006.51Ohio, Total violations cited: 33085 · Average penalty per violation: $3209.32Illinois, Total violations cited: 38576 · Average penalty per violation: $2518.72Pennsylvania, Total violations cited: 34307 · Average penalty per violation: $2124.18New York, Total violations cited: 79647 · Average penalty per violation: $851.4Wisconsin, Total violations cited: 23614 · Average penalty per violation: $2667.32Florida, Total violations cited: 20137 · Average penalty per violation: $2911.21Georgia, Total violations cited: 23607 · Average penalty per violation: $2424.16Virginia, Total violations cited: 29121 · Average penalty per violation: $1651.15Michigan, Total violations cited: 67640 · Average penalty per violation: $671.06Alabama, Total violations cited: 14683 · Average penalty per violation: $2955.54Nevada, Total violations cited: 18844 · Average penalty per violation: $1778.2Missouri, Total violations cited: 12358 · Average penalty per violation: $2481.04Massachusetts, Total violations cited: 12091 · Average penalty per violation: $2401.87Connecticut, Total violations cited: 23647 · Average penalty per violation: $1188.05Kansas, Total violations cited: 9514 · Average penalty per violation: $2852.86Tennessee, Total violations cited: 38865 · Average penalty per violation: $633.23Colorado, Total violations cited: 11833 · Average penalty per violation: $1925.51Iowa, Total violations cited: 10267 · Average penalty per violation: $1892.75Nebraska, Total violations cited: 4514 · Average penalty per violation: $3581.2Oklahoma, Total violations cited: 5020 · Average penalty per violation: $2618.51Maryland, Total violations cited: 24360 · Average penalty per violation: $537.35Hawaii, Total violations cited: 9120 · Average penalty per violation: $1397.7Washington, Total violations cited: 28812 · Average penalty per violation: $424.16Alaska, Total violations cited: 11441 · Average penalty per violation: $1050.89Mississippi, Total violations cited: 4912 · Average penalty per violation: $2280.7North Carolina, Total violations cited: 18017 · Average penalty per violation: $593.13Arkansas, Total violations cited: 3343 · Average penalty per violation: $3153.71Maine, Total violations cited: 8054 · Average penalty per violation: $1235.73Puerto Rico, Total violations cited: 11369 · Average penalty per violation: $851.43Delaware, Total violations cited: 1884 · Average penalty per violation: $5004.52Louisiana, Total violations cited: 3408 · Average penalty per violation: $2525.26North Dakota, Total violations cited: 1761 · Average penalty per violation: $4787.03New Hampshire, Total violations cited: 3281 · Average penalty per violation: $2336.7Idaho, Total violations cited: 3829 · Average penalty per violation: $1867.02West Virginia, Total violations cited: 3289 · Average penalty per violation: $2142.24Utah, Total violations cited: 6414 · Average penalty per violation: $1044.66Rhode Island, Total violations cited: 3528 · Average penalty per violation: $1806.54Indiana, Total violations cited: 4225 · Average penalty per violation: $1430.22South Dakota, Total violations cited: 1901 · Average penalty per violation: $3123.16Oregon, Total violations cited: 21930 · Average penalty per violation: $263.72Kentucky, Total violations cited: 3171 · Average penalty per violation: $1801.2Montana, Total violations cited: 2718 · Average penalty per violation: $2076Minnesota, Total violations cited: 9173 · Average penalty per violation: $604.31New Mexico, Total violations cited: 2690 · Average penalty per violation: $1987.11Wyoming, Total violations cited: 2936 · Average penalty per violation: $1582.38Guam, Total violations cited: 3356 · Average penalty per violation: $1368.12Vermont, Total violations cited: 3044 · Average penalty per violation: $1498.54Arizona, Total violations cited: 8689 · Average penalty per violation: $523.14District of Columbia, Total violations cited: 2002 · Average penalty per violation: $1600.22South Carolina, Total violations cited: 5382 · Average penalty per violation: $551.38American Samoa, Total violations cited: 829 · Average penalty per violation: $3521.93Virgin Islands, Total violations cited: 2592 · Average penalty per violation: $737.45Northern Mariana Islands, Total violations cited: 943 · Average penalty per violation: $1423.52
South Dakota cites 1,901 total violations at an average current penalty of $3123.16 per violation. The crosshair marks the median jurisdiction on both axes. Across this dataset, citing more violations is mildly ASSOCIATED WITH A LOWER average penalty per violation, not a higher one -- the opposite of what volume alone might suggest.

Top OSHA & wage enforcement actions in South Dakota

Ranked by combined OSHA penalties and DOL Wage & Hour Division back wages. Some employers below have wage-theft cases with zero OSHA safety violations, or vice versa; check the Inspections/Violations columns before drawing safety conclusions.

# Employer InspectionsViolationsPenalty + wages
1 Adams Thermal Systems, INC. Canton 7 72 $450K
2 Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls 0 0 $412K
3 Strehlow Bees, Inc Kadoka 0 0 $405K
4 Brink Constructors Rapid City 0 0 $318K
5 Amtec Corporation Clear Lake 6 28 $246K
6 Hultgren Construction, LLC Sioux Falls 2 29 $201K
7 Dakota Bodies, LLC Watertown 3 30 $175K
8 Global Employment Agency, Inc Sturgis 0 0 $154K
9 Genuine Builders, Inc. Arlington 0 0 $147K
10 Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet Sioux Falls 0 0 $140K
11 Timberline Construction, Inc Rapid City 0 0 $120K
12 Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, INC. Sioux Falls 3 50 $104K
13 The Lodge at Deadwood Deadwood 0 0 $103K
14 Winter Contracting, LLC Dell Rapids 2 4 $100K
15 North Central Farmers Elevator Warner 2 9 $100K
16 Vision Quest Solutions Hot Springs 0 0 $97K
17 Custer State Park Resort Custer 0 0 $94K
18 Henry Carlson Construction LLC Sioux Falls 2 20 $92K
19 Dakota Beverage Company, Inc. Sioux Falls 0 0 $91K
20 Custom Genetic Solutions, LLC Mitchell 2 13 $88K

All employers in South Dakota

Employer CityInspectionsPenalty
Forest Recreation Management Hill City 0 $0
Beadle Floral and Nursery Aberdeen 0 $0
Chokan Exteriors, LLC Sioux Falls 4 $41K
Integrity Construction, INC. Sioux Falls 5 $41K
Dakotaview Construction LLC Sioux Falls 3 $39K
Midwest Excavating, LLC Sioux Falls 2 $39K
Metro Construction, INC. Sioux Falls 5 $39K
Old Tree Farms Volga 0 $0
Smithfield Packaged Meats CORP. Sioux Falls 8 $38K
Wilson Trailer Company Yankton 5 $38K
Miranda Framing Sioux Falls 2 $37K
G-Force Logistics Rapid City 0 $0
First Dakota Enterprises, INC. Pierre 2 $37K
Forest Products Distributors, INC. Rapid City 2 $36K
P & M Steel Company Sioux Falls 3 $35K
Best Western Golden Spike Inn & Suites Hill City 0 $0
Toro Construction LLC Sioux Falls 3 $35K
Howard Cold Storage, Inc. Howard 0 $0
Bell Incorporated Sioux Falls 2 $33K
National Food NW LLC Plankinton 2 $33K
Dakota Foundry, INC. Webster 3 $33K
Design Tanks, LLC Sioux Falls 4 $32K
H & W Contracting, LLC Redfield 2 $31K
Midwest Railcar Repair, INC. Brandon 3 $31K
Correct Care Solutions Sioux Falls 0 $0
Heavy Construction, INC. Sioux Falls 2 $30K
South Dakota Soybean Processors, LLC Volga 2 $30K
TM Industries, LLC Artesian 2 $30K
Sioux Laundry, INC. North Sioux City 2 $28K
Showplace Wood Products, INC. Harrisburg 3 $27K
Rapid Packaging Company, INC. Brookings 2 $27K
Tires, Tires, Tires Sioux Falls 0 $0
Howe, INC. Sioux Falls 1 $7K
Project Solutions, Inc. Rapid City 0 $0
Lloyd Companies Sioux Falls 4 $25K
Ups, INC. Sioux Falls 2 $25K
Manley Tire & Oil Service Inc Valley Springs 0 $0
D & S Welding, LLC Sherman 3 $25K
Spring Creek Construction, INC. Rapid City 3 $25K
Riddle's Jewelry Rapid City 0 $0
Reynolds Construction Management Services, INC. Sioux Falls 7 $24K
Dow Rummel Village Sioux Falls 0 $0
Ace Steel & Recycling INC. Rapid City 2 $24K
Olson's Pest Technicians Yankton 0 $0
Supreme Pro Clean Rapid City 0 $0
Walter Ree Masonry Construction, INC. Sioux Falls 3 $23K
Genuine Builders Arlington 0 $0
Blue Sugars Corporation Rapid City 0 $0
Paradigm Construction, LLC Sioux Falls 4 $23K
Hander INC. Sioux Falls 2 $22K
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Industries in South Dakota

Enforcement and wage-compliance data broken out by industry sector within South Dakota.

Accommodation & Food ServicesAdministrative & Waste ServicesAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing & HuntingArts, Entertainment & RecreationConstructionEducational ServicesHealthcare & Social AssistanceInformationManufacturingOtherOther ServicesProfessional & Technical ServicesReal Estate & RentalRetail TradeTransportation & WarehousingWholesale Trade

Top Cities in South Dakota

The 17 cities with the most employers in the federal enforcement record within South Dakota.

Sioux Falls (226)Rapid City (106)Watertown (31)Brookings (24)Mitchell (15)Aberdeen (15)Yankton (14)North Sioux City (13)Tea (12)Brandon (11)Huron (10)Deadwood (10)Spearfish (8)Pierre (7)Hill City (7)Keystone (7)DE Smet (5)

Nationwide states with similar OSHA penalties or violation rates

Two enforcement-record peer sets for South Dakota: nearest jurisdictions by total assessed OSHA penalties and by violations per inspection. These are cross-state neighborhoods, not the employer-book peers above.

Similar total OSHA penalties

Lower-penalty jurisdictions nationwide with similar inspection-weighted violation rates to South Dakota.

Indiana $6.0M Oregon $5.8M Kentucky $5.7M Montana $5.6M

Similar violations per inspection

Nearest states by inspection-weighted violation rate (2.11 here).

Vermont 2.11/insp Illinois 2.12/insp Mississippi 2.13/insp Pennsylvania 2.13/insp

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data, U.S. Department of Labor · Verify with OSHA establishment search →
Source: Wage & Hour Division Compliance Actions, U.S. Department of Labor · DOL WHD data →