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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

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 violationAlabama, Total violations cited: 14683 · Average penalty per violation: $2955.54Alaska, Total violations cited: 11441 · Average penalty per violation: $1050.89American Samoa, Total violations cited: 829 · Average penalty per violation: $3521.93Arizona, Total violations cited: 8689 · Average penalty per violation: $523.14Arkansas, Total violations cited: 3343 · Average penalty per violation: $3153.71California, Total violations cited: 62917 · Average penalty per violation: $1931.91Colorado, Total violations cited: 11833 · Average penalty per violation: $1925.51Connecticut, Total violations cited: 23647 · Average penalty per violation: $1188.05Delaware, Total violations cited: 1884 · Average penalty per violation: $5004.52District of Columbia, Total violations cited: 2002 · Average penalty per violation: $1600.22Florida, Total violations cited: 20137 · Average penalty per violation: $2911.21Georgia, Total violations cited: 23607 · Average penalty per violation: $2424.16Guam, Total violations cited: 3356 · Average penalty per violation: $1368.12Hawaii, Total violations cited: 9120 · Average penalty per violation: $1397.7Idaho, Total violations cited: 3829 · Average penalty per violation: $1867.02Illinois, Total violations cited: 38576 · Average penalty per violation: $2518.72Indiana, Total violations cited: 4225 · Average penalty per violation: $1430.22Iowa, Total violations cited: 10267 · Average penalty per violation: $1892.75Kansas, Total violations cited: 9514 · Average penalty per violation: $2852.86Kentucky, Total violations cited: 3171 · Average penalty per violation: $1801.2Louisiana, Total violations cited: 3408 · Average penalty per violation: $2525.26Maine, Total violations cited: 8054 · Average penalty per violation: $1235.73Maryland, Total violations cited: 24360 · Average penalty per violation: $537.35Massachusetts, Total violations cited: 12091 · Average penalty per violation: $2401.87Michigan, Total violations cited: 67640 · Average penalty per violation: $671.06Minnesota, Total violations cited: 9173 · Average penalty per violation: $604.31Mississippi, Total violations cited: 4912 · Average penalty per violation: $2280.7Missouri, Total violations cited: 12358 · Average penalty per violation: $2481.04Montana, Total violations cited: 2718 · Average penalty per violation: $2076Nebraska, Total violations cited: 4514 · Average penalty per violation: $3581.2Nevada, Total violations cited: 18844 · Average penalty per violation: $1778.2New Hampshire, Total violations cited: 3281 · Average penalty per violation: $2336.7New Jersey, Total violations cited: 51588 · Average penalty per violation: $2257.14New Mexico, Total violations cited: 2690 · Average penalty per violation: $1987.11New York, Total violations cited: 79647 · Average penalty per violation: $851.4North Carolina, Total violations cited: 18017 · Average penalty per violation: $593.13North Dakota, Total violations cited: 1761 · Average penalty per violation: $4787.03Northern Mariana Islands, Total violations cited: 943 · Average penalty per violation: $1423.52Ohio, Total violations cited: 33085 · Average penalty per violation: $3209.32Oklahoma, Total violations cited: 5020 · Average penalty per violation: $2618.51Oregon, Total violations cited: 21930 · Average penalty per violation: $263.72Pennsylvania, Total violations cited: 34307 · Average penalty per violation: $2124.18Puerto Rico, Total violations cited: 11369 · Average penalty per violation: $851.43Rhode Island, Total violations cited: 3528 · Average penalty per violation: $1806.54South Carolina, Total violations cited: 5382 · Average penalty per violation: $551.38South Dakota, Total violations cited: 1901 · Average penalty per violation: $3123.16Tennessee, Total violations cited: 38865 · Average penalty per violation: $633.23Texas, Total violations cited: 37481 · Average penalty per violation: $3006.51Utah, Total violations cited: 6414 · Average penalty per violation: $1044.66Vermont, Total violations cited: 3044 · Average penalty per violation: $1498.54Virgin Islands, Total violations cited: 2592 · Average penalty per violation: $737.45Virginia, Total violations cited: 29121 · Average penalty per violation: $1651.15Washington, Total violations cited: 28812 · Average penalty per violation: $424.16West Virginia, Total violations cited: 3289 · Average penalty per violation: $2142.24Wisconsin, Total violations cited: 23614 · Average penalty per violation: $2667.32Wyoming, Total violations cited: 2936 · Average penalty per violation: $1582.38
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.

#EmployerInspectionsViolationsPenalty + wages
1Adams Thermal Systems, INC.Canton772$450K
2Good Samaritan SocietySioux Falls00$412K
3Strehlow Bees, IncKadoka00$405K
4Brink ConstructorsRapid City00$318K
5Amtec CorporationClear Lake628$246K
6Hultgren Construction, LLCSioux Falls229$201K
7Dakota Bodies, LLCWatertown330$175K
8Global Employment Agency, IncSturgis00$154K
9Genuine Builders, Inc.Arlington00$147K
10Hibachi Grill & Supreme BuffetSioux Falls00$140K
11Timberline Construction, IncRapid City00$120K
12Wheeler Tank Manufacturing, INC.Sioux Falls350$104K
13The Lodge at DeadwoodDeadwood00$103K
14Winter Contracting, LLCDell Rapids24$100K
15North Central Farmers ElevatorWarner29$100K
16Vision Quest SolutionsHot Springs00$97K
17Custer State Park ResortCuster00$94K
18Henry Carlson Construction LLCSioux Falls220$92K
19Dakota Beverage Company, Inc.Sioux Falls00$91K
20Custom Genetic Solutions, LLCMitchell213$88K

All employers in South Dakota

EmployerCityInspectionsPenalty
Uncle Louie's DinerSturgis0$0
Black Hills ThinningRapid City0$0
Watertown Ford ChryslerWatertown2$16K
City of Beresford Police DepartmentBeresford0$0
Kyle MoellerWinner0$0
Pro Framing, INC.Sioux Falls9$16K
Wegner Roofing & Solar CorporationSioux Falls3$16K
Clark Drew Construction, INC.Brookings5$16K
Flatland ExcavatingHermosa2$15K
Twin City Fan Companies LTDAberdeen3$15K
Trail King Industries, INC.Mitchell5$15K
Kessler'sAberdeen0$0
Spielman Excavating LLCSioux Falls3$15K
Schoenhard's Custom Cabinetry, INC.Tea3$15K
Allen Construction Company, IncFlandreau0$0
Hydro Extrusion USA, LLCYankton3$15K
Creative Surfaces, INC.Rapid City2$15K
Winter Contracting LLCLennox2$15K
Dakota Tube, INC.Watertown2$14K
First Rate Excavate, INC.Sioux Falls5$14K
IT Outlet, IncSioux Falls0$0
RL Construction & Design, IncHill City0$0
3B FarmsGettysburg0$0
T&R Contracting, INC.Sioux Falls2$14K
Agtegra CooperativeRoscoe2$14K
Ab Contracting LLCBrandon2$14K
Moen Steel ErectionSioux Falls3$14K
Wilmot Care Center, INC.Wilmot2$14K
Olson Excavating, Inc.Rapid City0$0
Millstone Family RestaurantSpearfish0$0
Agtegra CooperativeAberdeen0$0
Mart Brothers Construction, INC.Sioux Falls2$14K
First Rate ExcavatingSioux Falls2$14K
Smithfield Packaged Meats CorporationSioux Falls2$13K
Castro's Construction LLCSioux Falls2$13K
Holiday Inn Express & SuitesHill City0$0
The Truck Wash OutSioux Falls0$0
D & K Lawn Care, LLCSioux Falls2$13K
Craven Corner Feeders, INC.Ipswich2$13K
Tess Roofing and Construction, INC.Brookings2$13K
Steel Erectors, INC.Sioux Falls2$8K
Duffield ConstructionRapid City0$0
Pizza HutSioux Falls0$0
Neiman Enterprises, INC.Spearfish2$13K
Premier Systems, INC.Sioux Falls9$13K
Agri-Air, Inc.Chamberlain0$0
Soukup Construction, INC.Sioux Falls2$13K
Advanced Roofing Systems, LLCRapid City2$13K
Benchmark Foam, INC.Watertown4$12K
Crosscountry Freight SolutionsSioux Falls2$12K
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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 →