How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Rapid City, SD in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists 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 Hygienist in Rapid City, South Dakota earns $44.18 per hour, or $91,890 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,658 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $70,420, and the top 10% of earners make over $97,590.
That pay is right at the South Dakota figure of $92,210 and 6% below the national figure of $98,100. Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in South Dakota for Dental Hygienist pay. About 120 Dental Hygienists work in the Rapid City area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Rapid City at a glance
- Typical pay is $44.18 an hour, or $91,890 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 $70,420; the top 10% make over $97,590.
- Typical pay rose +63% from 2015 to 2025, against +60% for South Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Rapid City?
Pay in Rapid City runs from entry-level positions at around $33.85 an hour to more than $46.92 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Dakota and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Rapid City
| Career stage | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $70,420$33.85 an hour | $73,480$35.33 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $78,320$37.66 an hour | $83,230$40.02 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $91,890$44.18 an hour | $92,210$44.33 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,130$44.77 an hour | $96,230$46.26 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $97,590$46.92 an hour | $98,290$47.25 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rapid City area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Rapid City
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists 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 Hygienist pay in Rapid City was $56,480 a year. By 2025 it had reached $91,890, a change of +63%, compared with +60% for South Dakota over the same years.
How Rapid City compares with other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls pays Dental Hygienists the most in South Dakota at $92,350 a year, $460 more than Rapid City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rapid City at $91,890.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rapid City | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $92,350 | $44.40 | +1% | 250 |
| 2 | Rapid City | $91,890 | $44.18 | this city | 120 |
Every metro area in South Dakota with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota typical pay $92,210
Is Rapid City a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Rapid City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $91,890 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rapid City area, about 1.6 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.4. That makes the local economy more reliant on Dental Hygienists than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Rapid City, SD?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Rapid City earns $91,890 a year, or $44.18 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $70,420 and the top 10% earn over $97,590.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Rapid City?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Rapid City is $44.18. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $33.85, and the top 10% earn over $46.92 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Rapid City?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Rapid City typically offer around $33.85 an hour, or $70,420 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Rapid City higher than in the rest of South Dakota?
- Rapid City pay is right at the South Dakota figure of $92,210 a year, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state. Sioux Falls pays the most in South Dakota at $92,350.