Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Rapid City, SD

Each occupation's median wage in Rapid City, SD compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Rapid City, SD pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Tutors$62,040
Some college, no degree
$45,400 – $76,560+43.1%
2Chief Executives$301,420
Bachelor's degree
$169,450 – $537,180+40.9%
3Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$48,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$24,010 – $61,900+35.3%
4Medical Transcriptionists$53,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,480 – $60,990+33.2%
5Manicurists and Pedicurists$47,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,780 – $54,110+33.1%
6Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$97,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,870 – $113,060+30.7%
7Cargo and Freight Agents$65,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,240 – $81,500+25.2%
8General and Operations Managers$130,410
Bachelor's degree
$80,890 – $243,700+23.3%
9Insurance Sales Agents$76,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,680 – $133,580+22.8%
10Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$46,620
Associate's degree
$30,920 – $56,370+22.2%
11Driver/Sales Workers$46,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,210 – $68,250+20.7%
12Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$57,730
Some college, no degree
$45,790 – $73,550+20.7%
13Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$58,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,920 – $78,550+19.1%
14First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$103,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,560 – $188,870+18.6%
15Protective Service Workers, All Other$49,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,330 – $69,240+17.4%
16Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,740 – $78,670+16.5%
17Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$115,600
Bachelor's degree
$62,520 – $165,050+16.4%
18First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$56,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,660 – $94,550+16.1%
19Architectural and Engineering Managers$196,800
Bachelor's degree
$127,930 – $229,250+14.9%
20Forest and Conservation Workers$50,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,900 – $61,010+14.7%
21Healthcare Social Workers$77,790
Master's degree
$47,070 – $88,080+14.6%
22Tax Preparers$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $63,750+11.3%
23Recreation Workers$39,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,290 – $66,480+9.0%
24Public Relations Specialists$81,330
Bachelor's degree
$50,180 – $119,740+8.8%
25First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$63,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $78,800+8.8%
26Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$78,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,870 – $128,890+8.6%
27Parts Salespersons$41,380
No formal educational credential
$34,250 – $63,610+7.1%
28Forest and Conservation Technicians$57,660
Associate's degree
$44,950 – $86,530+5.7%
29Atmospheric and Space Scientists$104,380
Bachelor's degree
$67,600 – $115,920+5.4%
30Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$67,290
Bachelor's degree
$36,030 – $74,270+5.4%
31First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$50,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,340 – $61,890+4.9%
32Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,030 – $79,690+4.8%
33Construction Managers$120,560
Bachelor's degree
$92,880 – $158,600+4.8%
34Order Clerks$48,360
Some college, no degree
$36,100 – $52,770+4.7%
35Pharmacy Technicians$47,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,000 – $59,330+4.6%
36Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling$82,620
Bachelor's degree
$60,180 – $123,230+3.9%
37Social and Community Service Managers$83,550
Bachelor's degree
$62,400 – $111,990+3.9%
38Surveyors$78,320
Bachelor's degree
$58,270 – $109,030+3.8%
39Information and Record Clerks, All Other$51,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,840 – $63,270+3.7%
40Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$36,900
No formal educational credential
$29,650 – $51,450+3.5%
41Pipelayers$50,650
No formal educational credential
$38,140 – $59,090+3.4%
42Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,800 – $65,130+3.0%
43Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,340
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040+3.0%
44Home Health and Personal Care Aides$36,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,280 – $48,720+2.7%
45Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$79,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,360 – $99,260+2.3%
46Loan Officers$78,470
Bachelor's degree
$56,810 – $122,810+2.3%
47Bill and Account Collectors$48,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,410 – $65,050+2.3%
48Procurement Clerks$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,660 – $60,730+2.1%
49Medical Records Specialists$52,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,720 – $77,730+2.0%
50Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,710 – $88,800+1.9%

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	vs. national
1	TutorsSome college, no degree	$62,040	$45,400 – $76,560	+43.1%
2	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$301,420	$169,450 – $537,180	+40.9%
3	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,440	$24,010 – $61,900	+35.3%
4	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,840	$43,480 – $60,990	+33.2%
5	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,600	$34,780 – $54,110	+33.1%
6	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,170	$57,870 – $113,060	+30.7%
7	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,440	$58,240 – $81,500	+25.2%
8	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,410	$80,890 – $243,700	+23.3%
9	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,500	$50,680 – $133,580	+22.8%
10	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$46,620	$30,920 – $56,370	+22.2%
11	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,780	$33,210 – $68,250	+20.7%
12	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$57,730	$45,790 – $73,550	+20.7%
13	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,620	$29,920 – $78,550	+19.1%
14	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,830	$57,560 – $188,870	+18.6%
15	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,940	$40,330 – $69,240	+17.4%
16	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,980	$38,740 – $78,670	+16.5%
17	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$115,600	$62,520 – $165,050	+16.4%
18	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,330	$38,660 – $94,550	+16.1%
19	Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree	$196,800	$127,930 – $229,250	+14.9%
20	Forest and Conservation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,110	$31,900 – $61,010	+14.7%
21	Healthcare Social WorkersMaster's degree	$77,790	$47,070 – $88,080	+14.6%
22	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$44,880 – $63,750	+11.3%
23	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,850	$28,290 – $66,480	+9.0%
24	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$81,330	$50,180 – $119,740	+8.8%
25	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,560	$47,850 – $78,800	+8.8%
26	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,280	$47,870 – $128,890	+8.6%
27	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$41,380	$34,250 – $63,610	+7.1%
28	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,660	$44,950 – $86,530	+5.7%
29	Atmospheric and Space ScientistsBachelor's degree	$104,380	$67,600 – $115,920	+5.4%
30	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$67,290	$36,030 – $74,270	+5.4%
31	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,990	$41,340 – $61,890	+4.9%
32	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$48,030 – $79,690	+4.8%
33	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$120,560	$92,880 – $158,600	+4.8%
34	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$48,360	$36,100 – $52,770	+4.7%
35	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,840	$37,000 – $59,330	+4.6%
36	Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except GamblingBachelor's degree	$82,620	$60,180 – $123,230	+3.9%
37	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$83,550	$62,400 – $111,990	+3.9%
38	SurveyorsBachelor's degree	$78,320	$58,270 – $109,030	+3.8%
39	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,340	$37,840 – $63,270	+3.7%
40	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$36,900	$29,650 – $51,450	+3.5%
41	PipelayersNo formal educational credential	$50,650	$38,140 – $59,090	+3.4%
42	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$40,800 – $65,130	+3.0%
43	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,340	$42,390 – $81,040	+3.0%
44	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,760	$33,280 – $48,720	+2.7%
45	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,780	$61,360 – $99,260	+2.3%
46	Loan OfficersBachelor's degree	$78,470	$56,810 – $122,810	+2.3%
47	Bill and Account CollectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,090	$40,410 – $65,050	+2.3%
48	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$41,660 – $60,730	+2.1%
49	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,140	$35,720 – $77,730	+2.0%
50	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,400	$52,710 – $88,800	+1.9%

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Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Rapid City, SD

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