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Wood deck cost in South Dakota

Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.

Statewide range (300 sq ft)
$6,800 – $13,600
Per sq ft
$22.50 – $45
before permit
Versus US midpoint
−10%
US $11,400
Metros covered
2

Across South Dakota, a wood deck costs about $6,800 to $13,600 for 300 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 10% below the US figure of $11,400. Carpenters earn a median $23.14 an hour in South Dakota (US: $29.12).

Inside South Dakota, the metros we cover range from $10,200 (Rapid City) to $10,300 (Sioux Falls) at the midpoint.

Estimate your wood deck cost

Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.

Quality level

Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing

Add-ons

Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in South Dakota (statewide), standard level

$8,850 to $11,600

About $29 to $38 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.

Cost breakdown
PartLowHigh
Materials$5,200$6,800
Labor$3,550$4,650
Permits and fees$70$110
Total$8,850$11,600
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Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in South Dakota

Part of the jobLowMidpointHighShare
Materials$4,000$6,000$8,00059%
Labor$2,750$4,100$5,50040%
Permits and fees$45$90$1301%
Total$6,800$10,200$13,600100%

Extras that change the South Dakota total

Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to South Dakota by the average of the local wage index (0.83) and goods index (0.95), a factor of 0.89. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.

Add-on prices
Add-onLocal range
Add stairs (flat)$1,250 – $2,300

South Dakota seasons and wood deck

Season matters for wood deck. For each South Dakota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.

Every South Dakota metro on the list has 9 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 20 inches a year in Rapid City to 28 in Sioux Falls.

We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.

Climate by metro (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
MetroJan avg low °FJul avg high °FPrecip (in/yr)Comfortable months
Sioux Falls985289: March through November
Rapid City1684209: March through November

South Dakota versus the states around it

South Dakota ranks 46 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for wood deck, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $14,300 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $9,900, both for 300 sq ft at the midpoint. South Dakota sits at $10,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.

States near South Dakota, same project and size
StateDistanceRangeMidpointvs. here
Nebraska220 miles away$6,850 – $13,700$10,300+1%
North Dakota220 miles away$7,250 – $14,600$10,900+7%
Minnesota290 miles away$7,950 – $15,900$11,900+17%
Iowa330 miles away$7,200 – $14,400$10,800+6%
Wyoming350 miles away$7,150 – $14,400$10,800+6%

Wood deck: what moves the price in South Dakota

  • Wood species

    Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest at $25-$50 per sq ft installed. Ipe runs $50-$70 and bamboo $27-$52 (HomeGuide).

  • Height and stairs

    A second-story deck needs more structure. New stairs run $1,400-$2,600 installed.

  • Railing

    A wood or vinyl railing adds $20-$60 per linear foot.

  • Replacement versus new

    Deck replacement costs $30-$55 per sq ft because of demolition and haul-away.

  • Permit

    Deck permits average $50-$150. Many cities skip the permit for small, low, freestanding decks.

South Dakota metro-by-metro prices

1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $10,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.

MetroRange (300 sq ft)Midpointvs. state
Sioux Falls, SD$6,850 – $13,800$10,300+1%
Rapid City, SD$6,800 – $13,700$10,200level

Quality levels and sizes in South Dakota

The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide South Dakota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.

Basic

$6,800 to $9,550

Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle

Standard

$8,850 to $11,600

Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing

Premium

$10,900 to $13,600

Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features

Cost by size and quality level
SizeBasicStandardPremium
10x12 (120 sq ft)$2,750 – $3,850$3,600 – $4,700$4,400 – $5,550
12x12 (144 sq ft)$3,300 – $4,600$4,300 – $5,600$5,300 – $6,600
16x20 (320 sq ft)$7,250 – $10,200$9,450 – $12,300$11,600 – $14,500
20x20 (400 sq ft)$9,050 – $12,700$11,800 – $15,400$14,500 – $18,100

What carpenters and the other trades earn in South Dakota

Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.83 for South Dakota.

For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $23.14 an hour, which is 21% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $28.87 an hour. BLS counts 4,560 of them working in the state, 99.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.

Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $21.98 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.42 and $23.14 an hour. About 1,780 work in the state. That is 38.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.

A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($28.87 an hour) would add about $780 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.29) would take off about $390. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.

BLS counts 457,380 jobs across South Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.

Median hourly wages behind the labor line (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
TradeWeight25th pctMedian75th pctUS medianRatioLevel used
Carpenters (47-2031)80%$20.29$23.14$28.87$29.120.79state
Construction laborers (47-2061)20%$18.42$21.98$23.14$22.660.97state
Blended100%0.83

Other South Dakota jobs that often go with wood deck

The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide South Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−5%) and composite deck lowest (−12%), because each job leans on different trades.

Related projects with local prices
ProjectSizeRangevs. US
Composite deck300 sq ft$10,600 – $21,200−12%
Concrete patio300 sq ft$1,150 – $3,650−9%
Paver patio300 sq ft$2,850 – $5,200−5%
Detached garage576 sq ft$26,200 – $52,700−9%

Get 3 local quotes

Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $8,850 to $11,600 for South Dakota is attached.

Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9

Multi-page report for South Dakota: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.

Wood deck in South Dakota: your questions

+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in South Dakota?

$6,800 to $13,600 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside South Dakota can sit above or below that.

+Which city in South Dakota is cheapest for wood deck?

Rapid City at about $10,200 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Sioux Falls at $10,300.

+Is wood deck cheaper in South Dakota than the US average?

It is 10% cheaper: $10,200 against $11,400 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.

+What share of the price is labor in South Dakota?

About 40% ($4,100). Materials are 59%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.83x the national wage level.

+What do carpenters earn in South Dakota?

The BLS statewide median is $23.14 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.29 to $28.87.

+Where does South Dakota rank for wood deck costs?

46th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $10,200 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.

+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in South Dakota?

For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,800 to $9,550 and premium work $10,900 to $13,600. Basic means: pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle. Premium means: hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features.

+Does the season matter for wood deck in South Dakota?

Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the South Dakota metros we cover, Sioux Falls has the most comfortable months (9 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.

+What does "add stairs" add in South Dakota?

$1,250 to $2,300, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.

Wood deck by city in South Dakota

Wood deck: all pricesSouth Dakota cost hub

Where these numbers come from

Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.