Lactation Consultant Salaries in South Dakota - SD

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: June, 30 2010

South Dakota is one of the states that mandate support for breastfeeding in public. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2009 Breastfeeding Report Card for the United States, among children born in South Dakota, 76.8 percent are breastfed for at least a period of time, compared to 73.9 percent of those across the rest of the United States.  The number of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) per 1,000 live births averages 2.20 in the United States as a whole and 2.12 in South Dakota.  

Birth facility and professional support are two of the indicators that contribute to a successful breastfeeding experience, according to the South Dakota Department of Health, and lactation consultants are considered a key factor in a successful breastfeeding experience for mothers and their babies. While the average salary for a lactation consultant may be lower than some other areas of the United States, the employment outlook is promising. Keep in mind that the following salaries are to be used solely as guidelines, and that medical facilities, as well as experience levels, should also be taken into account. Lactation consultant salaries in South Dakota:

South Dakota - $73,000
Sioux Falls - $60,000
Rapid City - $60,000
Aberdeen - $61,000
Watertown - $64,000. 

Employment opportunities exist for lactation consultants at most hospitals throughout South Dakota, including Sanford USD Medical Center, Rapid City Regional Hospital, Avera Saint Luke's Hospital and Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center.