High paying jobs in Rapid City, SD that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Rapid City, SD, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Rapid City, SD run 10.8% below the national average (2024), so a Rapid City, SD salary is worth about 1.12× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Rapid City, SD

OccupationMedian, Rapid City, SD · Employed

1Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$97,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,870 – $113,06040
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,720 – $116,190120
3Dental Hygienists$91,890
Associate's degree
$70,420 – $97,590120
4Commercial Pilots$86,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,120 – $113,43060
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,710 – $88,80050
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$79,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,360 – $99,260140
7Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$78,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,870 – $128,890780
8Insurance Sales Agents$76,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,680 – $133,580310
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,210
Associate's degree
$50,050 – $97,200130
10Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$65,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,980 – $79,270370
11Cargo and Freight Agents$65,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,240 – $81,50030
12Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $76,55090
13Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$63,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,540 – $92,48040
14Advertising Sales Agents$63,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $102,30080
15Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,980 – $78,800160
16Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$62,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,170 – $84,690130
17Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,340
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040100
18Plant and System Operators, All Other$62,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,140 – $80,96030
19Tutors$62,040
Some college, no degree
$45,400 – $76,56030
20Surgical Technologists$61,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,310 – $75,940110
21Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,010 – $74,280360
22Electricians$61,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,540 – $78,540460
23Tax Preparers$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $63,75050
24Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$60,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,630 – $75,240410
25Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,030 – $79,69060
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,430 – $84,34070
27Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,120 – $79,890740
28Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,740 – $78,670360
29Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,380 – $65,43040
30Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$58,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,920 – $78,55090
31Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,610
Associate's degree
$46,870 – $77,100100
32Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$57,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $64,890190
33Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$57,730
Some college, no degree
$45,790 – $73,55060
34Forest and Conservation Technicians$57,660
Associate's degree
$44,950 – $86,530120
35Postal Service Clerks$57,430
No formal educational credential
$36,360 – $75,03030
36Architectural and Civil Drafters$57,300
Associate's degree
$49,410 – $74,77050
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$56,720
Associate's degree
$48,040 – $73,320150
38Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$55,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,530 – $74,450360
39Transportation Security Screeners$55,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,640 – $73,32040
40Medical Transcriptionists$53,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,480 – $60,99030
41Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$53,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,670 – $63,60060
42Correctional Officers and Jailers$53,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,370 – $69,410240
43Massage Therapists$52,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,720 – $54,23050
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$52,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,440 – $73,920340
45Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,800 – $65,13070
46Medical Records Specialists$52,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,720 – $77,730100
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$51,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,740 – $65,65050
48Computer Network Support Specialists$51,950
Associate's degree
$39,030 – $74,52060
49Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$51,940
Associate's degree
$47,530 – $82,08040
50Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,340 – $71,000200

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianRapid City, SD	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,170	$57,870 – $113,060	40
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,220	$49,720 – $116,190	120
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$91,890	$70,420 – $97,590	120
4	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$86,150	$49,120 – $113,430	60
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,400	$52,710 – $88,800	50
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,780	$61,360 – $99,260	140
7	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,280	$47,870 – $128,890	780
8	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,500	$50,680 – $133,580	310
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,210	$50,050 – $97,200	130
10	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,620	$49,980 – $79,270	370
11	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,440	$58,240 – $81,500	30
12	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,890	$50,960 – $76,550	90
13	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,760	$48,540 – $92,480	40
14	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,640	$39,600 – $102,300	80
15	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,700	$48,980 – $78,800	160
16	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,500	$50,170 – $84,690	130
17	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,340	$42,390 – $81,040	100
18	Plant and System Operators, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,190	$43,140 – $80,960	30
19	TutorsSome college, no degree	$62,040	$45,400 – $76,560	30
20	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,960	$45,310 – $75,940	110
21	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,430	$48,010 – $74,280	360
22	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,160	$40,540 – $78,540	460
23	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$44,880 – $63,750	50
24	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,660	$48,630 – $75,240	410
25	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$48,030 – $79,690	60
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,250	$43,430 – $84,340	70
27	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,110	$45,120 – $79,890	740
28	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,980	$38,740 – $78,670	360
29	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$46,380 – $65,430	40
30	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,620	$29,920 – $78,550	90
31	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,610	$46,870 – $77,100	100
32	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,780	$46,170 – $64,890	190
33	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$57,730	$45,790 – $73,550	60
34	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,660	$44,950 – $86,530	120
35	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$36,360 – $75,030	30
36	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$57,300	$49,410 – $74,770	50
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$56,720	$48,040 – $73,320	150
38	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,850	$39,530 – $74,450	360
39	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,530	$45,640 – $73,320	40
40	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,840	$43,480 – $60,990	30
41	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,740	$35,670 – $63,600	60
42	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,040	$47,370 – $69,410	240
43	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,970	$35,720 – $54,230	50
44	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,220	$41,440 – $73,920	340
45	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$40,800 – $65,130	70
46	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,140	$35,720 – $77,730	100
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,980	$40,740 – $65,650	50
48	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$51,950	$39,030 – $74,520	60
49	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$51,940	$47,530 – $82,080	40
50	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,690	$38,340 – $71,000	200

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Rapid City, SD. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Rapid City, SD to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Rapid City, SD that need no experience

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