Jobs in the United States → United States guide → Metro areas → Rapid City, SD

Jobs in Rapid City, SD

Pay, demand and occupations in this metropolitan area.

In short: Rapid City, SD: 73,820 jobs, median pay $46,270 a year.

By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 09/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.

$46,270median pay
73,820jobs
6cities listed
$97,660top (90th pct.)
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Overview

METRO Official statistic Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: May 2025

Rapid City, SD is a metropolitan area in South Dakota. BLS counts 73,820 wage-and-salary jobs here, with a median pay of $46,270 a year (the lowest-paid tenth earn under $29,100 and the highest-paid tenth more than $97,660).

Cities in our guides that belong to this area: Rapid City, Box Elder, Sturgis, Rapid Valley, Summerset, Blackhawk.

Private-sector jobs →Federal jobs →All metro areas

Largest occupations

METRO Official statistic Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: May 2025

The 40 largest occupations here (at least 100 jobs).

Sort:
Occupation ⇅Jobs ⇅Median pay ⇅Entry (10th pct.) ⇅Top (90th pct.) ⇅Location quotient ⇅
Retail Salespersons3,090$33,350$27,870$54,0401.67
Fast Food and Counter Workers2,860$29,440$27,850$36,4001.56
Registered Nurses2,480$79,380$64,790$98,7401.55
Cashiers1,980$30,460$26,800$36,3401.35
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1,720$46,810$35,170$59,9902.64
Stockers and Order Fillers1,580$37,150$27,800$45,7701.18
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1,520$34,880$29,320$43,7501.45
Waiters and Waitresses1,430$29,020$27,530$40,6401.32
Nursing Assistants1,280$38,500$36,290$46,1001.86
Receptionists and Information Clerks1,240$37,990$27,910$47,8202.87
Customer Service Representatives1,010$38,520$28,630$51,0300.82
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive990$41,720$31,500$53,0401.22
Carpenters870$48,640$37,750$63,4002.73
Accountants and Auditors840$79,270$62,260$119,2001.22
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners810$29,210$27,940$34,1501.98
Light Truck Drivers800$43,250$27,640$60,7001.71
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products780$78,280$47,870$128,8901.33
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers740$59,110$45,120$79,8900.76
General and Operations Managers700$130,410$80,890$243,7000.42
Bartenders700$29,500$27,680$41,4801.95
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers670$56,330$38,660$94,5501.26
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers630$34,840$28,180$45,6601.39
Food Preparation Workers610$30,670$25,710$38,7901.43
Home Health and Personal Care Aides570$36,760$33,280$48,7200.28
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks570$30,340$26,680$34,9204.57
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers550$37,960$34,290$49,1500.95
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General550$47,110$35,730$60,4500.76
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary540$27,740$24,850$34,6800.81
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education530$59,480$48,000$60,3200.80
Management Analysts510$92,710$60,880$165,1701.20
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers470$77,900$60,790$97,7601.22
Electricians460$61,160$40,540$78,5401.29
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers450$30,570$26,970$36,8601.75
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks430$39,130$30,050$54,3201.12
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand420$38,050$30,070$45,9200.30
Child, Family, and School Social Workers420$50,490$38,500$65,7302.25
Construction Laborers410$45,630$35,830$51,1200.80
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators410$60,660$48,630$75,2401.83
Cooks, Restaurant390$35,910$30,050$44,4300.58
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education390$59,540$47,190$76,3600.78

Top pay

METRO Official statistic Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: May 2025

The 40 highest-paying occupations among those with at least 300 jobs.

Sort:
Occupation ⇅Jobs ⇅Median pay ⇅Entry (10th pct.) ⇅Top (90th pct.) ⇅Location quotient ⇅
General and Operations Managers700$130,410$80,890$243,7000.42
Civil Engineers350$100,300$72,840$125,4301.99
Management Analysts510$92,710$60,880$165,1701.20
Registered Nurses2,480$79,380$64,790$98,7401.55
Accountants and Auditors840$79,270$62,260$119,2001.22
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products780$78,280$47,870$128,8901.33
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers470$77,900$60,790$97,7601.22
Insurance Sales Agents310$76,500$50,680$133,5801.35
Project Management Specialists330$74,700$62,270$132,8300.66
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers370$65,620$49,980$79,2701.17
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers360$61,430$48,010$74,2801.87
Electricians460$61,160$40,540$78,5401.29
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers320$60,700$39,990$78,0400.46
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators410$60,660$48,630$75,2401.83
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education330$60,020$47,750$63,4501.12
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education390$59,540$47,190$76,3600.78
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education530$59,480$48,000$60,3200.80
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers740$59,110$45,120$79,8900.76
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics360$58,980$38,740$78,6701.08
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers670$56,330$38,660$94,5501.26
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters360$55,850$39,530$74,4501.63
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses340$52,220$41,440$73,9201.09
Child, Family, and School Social Workers420$50,490$38,500$65,7302.25
Carpenters870$48,640$37,750$63,4002.73
Dental Assistants320$47,850$37,970$59,0301.72
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors350$47,620$39,210$73,2201.49
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General550$47,110$35,730$60,4500.76
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1,720$46,810$35,170$59,9902.64
Construction Laborers410$45,630$35,830$51,1200.80
Light Truck Drivers800$43,250$27,640$60,7001.71
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive990$41,720$31,500$53,0401.22
Parts Salespersons340$41,380$34,250$63,6102.64
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks430$39,130$30,050$54,3201.12
Customer Service Representatives1,010$38,520$28,630$51,0300.82
Nursing Assistants1,280$38,500$36,290$46,1001.86
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand420$38,050$30,070$45,9200.30
Receptionists and Information Clerks1,240$37,990$27,910$47,8202.87
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers550$37,960$34,290$49,1500.95
Stockers and Order Fillers1,580$37,150$27,800$45,7701.18
Home Health and Personal Care Aides570$36,760$33,280$48,7200.28

Fields

METRO Official statistic Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: May 2025

Sort:

Cities

CITY Official statistic Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year (via Census Reporter) · Data: ACS 2020–2024

Sort:
City ⇅State ⇅Population ⇅Median rent ⇅
Rapid CitySouth Dakota77,946$1,109
Box ElderSouth Dakota12,902$1,491
SturgisSouth Dakota7,086$780
Rapid ValleySouth Dakota6,975$1,174
SummersetSouth Dakota3,022$1,288
BlackhawkSouth Dakota2,934n/a

Open jobs

Open private-sector jobs by city of this area:

Rapid City · Box Elder · Sturgis · Rapid Valley · Summerset · Blackhawk

FAQ

How many jobs are there in Rapid City, SD?

BLS counts 73,820 wage-and-salary jobs (OEWS, May 2025).

What is the median pay in Rapid City, SD?

$46,270 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Which occupation pays most in Rapid City, SD?

General and Operations Managers, with a median of $130,410 among occupations with at least 300 jobs.

Sources

Sources

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