How Much Does a CNA Make in Rapid City, SD in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Rapid City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across South Dakota.
BLS OES May 2025 · Rapid City metro area
A typical CNA in Rapid City, South Dakota earns $18.51 per hour, or $38,500 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,208 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,290, and the top 10% of earners make over $46,100.
That pay is 1% below the South Dakota figure of $38,800 and 9% below the national figure of $42,260. Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in South Dakota for CNA pay. About 1,280 CNAs work in the Rapid City area.
CNA pay in Rapid City at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.51 an hour, or $38,500 a year.
- That is 1% below the South Dakota figure, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,290; the top 10% make over $46,100.
- Typical pay rose +56% from 2015 to 2025, against +66% for South Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Rapid City?
Pay in Rapid City runs from entry-level positions at around $17.45 an hour to more than $22.17 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Dakota and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Rapid City
| Career stage | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,290$17.45 an hour | $31,110$14.96 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,500$18.51 an hour | $36,830$17.71 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,500$18.51 an hour | $38,800$18.65 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $43,860$21.09 an hour | $43,940$21.12 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $46,100$22.17 an hour | $46,100$22.17 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rapid City area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Rapid City
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Rapid City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Rapid City was $24,700 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,500, a change of +56%, compared with +66% for South Dakota over the same years.
How Rapid City compares with other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls pays CNAs the most in South Dakota at $39,190 a year, $690 more than Rapid City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rapid City at $38,500.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rapid City | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $39,190 | $18.84 | +2% | 2,930 |
| 2 | Rapid City | $38,500 | $18.51 | this city | 1,280 |
Every metro area in South Dakota with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota typical pay $38,800
Is Rapid City a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Rapid City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,500 a year, 9% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rapid City area, about 17 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Rapid City, SD?
- A typical CNA in Rapid City earns $38,500 a year, or $18.51 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,290 and the top 10% earn over $46,100.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Rapid City?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Rapid City is $18.51. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.45, and the top 10% earn over $22.17 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Rapid City?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Rapid City typically offer around $17.45 an hour, or $36,290 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Rapid City higher than in the rest of South Dakota?
- Rapid City pay is 1% below the South Dakota figure of $38,800 a year, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state. Sioux Falls pays the most in South Dakota at $39,190.