CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for surveying and mapping services firms in South Dakota
22 surveying and mapping services firms operated in South Dakota in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 22CBP 2023
- Employees
- 107mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 2.4U.S. 2.1
- State rank
- 49th of 51by count
The surveying firm industry in South Dakota
County Business Patterns counts 22 establishments in South Dakota classified as Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services (NAICS 541370) for 2023. They employed 107 people in mid-March and reported $6,896,000 in annual payroll. That is the 49th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Surveying and mapping services firms make up 0.08% of the 29,106 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) South Dakota has 2.4 surveying and mapping services firms, 11.0% above the national rate of 2.1. The average establishment has 4.9 employees against 8.0 nationally. Payroll per employee is $64,449, 13.0% below the U.S. figure of $74,108.
| Measure | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 22 | 7,288 |
| Mid-March employees | 107 (moderate noise) | 58,087 |
| Annual payroll | $6,896,000 | $4,304,723,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 4.9 | 8.0 |
| Payroll per employee | $64,449 | $74,108 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 2.4 | 2.1 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Surveying and mapping services firms by metro area in South Dakota
Census published surveying firm counts for 3 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of South Dakota. The largest is Rapid City, SD, with 6 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 41% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 6 | 58 | 3.8 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 4 | — | 1.3 |
| Spearfish, SD | 3 | — | 10.4 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at surveying and mapping services firms in South Dakota
75.0% of South Dakota's surveying and mapping services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 58.3% nationally. 100.0% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 15 | 75.0% | 58.3% |
| 5–9 employees | 5 | 25.0% | 21.5% |
| 10–19 employees | not published | — | 12.3% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 5.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 2.0% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a surveying firm in South Dakota has to catch
Surveyors spend their days in the field, and calls about boundary surveys, closings and construction staking come from homeowners, title companies and builders. A line that rings field crews' phones keeps work from waiting.
A few of the calls that come in to surveying and mapping services firms in South Dakota:
- A homeowner calls about a fence-line dispute.
- A title company calls for a survey before closing.
- A builder calls to schedule staking.
Business texting for surveying and mapping services firms
Surveyors text arrival windows and completion notices.
Texting from a local number in South Dakota requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for surveying and mapping services firms in South Dakota
Surveying and mapping services firms in South Dakota average 4.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 5-person team. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $124.75 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $150.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $99.00 a month for 5 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $612 less than RingCentral for a surveying firm in South Dakota of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $95.00 | $1,140.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $115.00 | $1,380.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $124.75 | $1,497.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $135.00 | $1,620.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in South Dakota
South Dakota has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a surveying firm can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 605 | 745 | Central and Mountain | 1947 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for surveying and mapping services firms in South Dakota
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in South Dakota is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many surveying and mapping services firms are in South Dakota?
22 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 107 people in mid-March.
Which South Dakota metro area has the most surveying and mapping services firms?
Rapid City, SD, with 6 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 5-person surveying firm?
$150.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $124.75 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a South Dakota number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.