How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Rapid City, SD in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants 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 Dental Assistant in Rapid City, South Dakota earns $23.00 per hour, or $47,850 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,988 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,970, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,030.
That pay is right at the South Dakota figure of $47,900 and right at the national figure of $48,070. Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in South Dakota for Dental Assistant pay. About 320 Dental Assistants work in the Rapid City area.
Dental Assistant pay in Rapid City at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.00 an hour, or $47,850 a year.
- That is right at the South Dakota figure, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,970; the top 10% make over $59,030.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +44% for South Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Rapid City?
Pay in Rapid City runs from entry-level positions at around $18.25 an hour to more than $28.38 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Dakota and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Rapid City
| Career stage | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,970$18.25 an hour | $38,190$18.36 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $46,270$22.24 an hour | $47,060$22.62 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $47,850$23.00 an hour | $47,900$23.03 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $56,530$27.18 an hour | $57,890$27.83 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,030$28.38 an hour | $60,310$28.99 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rapid City area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Rapid City
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Rapid City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Rapid City was $32,200 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,850, a change of +49%, compared with +44% for South Dakota over the same years.
How Rapid City compares with other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls pays Dental Assistants the most in South Dakota at $48,890 a year, $1,040 more than Rapid City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rapid City at $47,850.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rapid City | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $48,890 | $23.50 | +2% | 450 |
| 2 | Rapid City | $47,850 | $23.00 | this city | 320 |
Every metro area in South Dakota with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota typical pay $47,900
Is Rapid City a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Rapid City sits close to the national figure: $47,850 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rapid City area, about 4.3 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. That makes the local economy more reliant on Dental Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Rapid City, SD?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Rapid City earns $47,850 a year, or $23.00 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,970 and the top 10% earn over $59,030.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Rapid City?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Rapid City is $23.00. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.25, and the top 10% earn over $28.38 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Rapid City?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Rapid City typically offer around $18.25 an hour, or $37,970 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Rapid City higher than in the rest of South Dakota?
- Rapid City pay is right at the South Dakota figure of $47,900 a year, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state. Sioux Falls pays the most in South Dakota at $48,890.