How Much Does an LPN Make in Rapid City, SD in 2026?
Typical pay for LPNs 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 LPN in Rapid City, South Dakota earns $25.11 per hour, or $52,220 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,352 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $41,440, and the top 10% of earners make over $73,920.
That pay is 1% below the South Dakota figure of $52,750 and 19% below the national figure of $64,400. Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in South Dakota for LPN pay. About 340 LPNs work in the Rapid City area.
LPN pay in Rapid City at a glance
- Typical pay is $25.11 an hour, or $52,220 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 $41,440; the top 10% make over $73,920.
- Typical pay rose +40% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for South Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an LPN make in Rapid City?
Pay in Rapid City runs from entry-level positions at around $19.92 an hour to more than $35.54 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Dakota and national figures.
LPN pay by career stage in Rapid City
| Career stage | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $41,440$19.92 an hour | $40,770$19.60 an hour | $49,740$23.91 an hour |
| First years | $48,550$23.34 an hour | $49,680$23.88 an hour | $59,000$28.37 an hour |
| Typical LPN | $52,220$25.11 an hour | $52,750$25.36 an hour | $64,400$30.96 an hour |
| Experienced | $62,450$30.02 an hour | $61,300$29.47 an hour | $76,030$36.55 an hour |
| Top 10% | $73,920$35.54 an hour | $67,700$32.55 an hour | $83,440$40.12 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rapid City area as BLS defines it
LPN pay growth in Rapid City
Typical (median) annual wage for LPNs in the Rapid City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical LPN pay in Rapid City was $37,220 a year. By 2025 it had reached $52,220, a change of +40%, compared with +46% for South Dakota over the same years.
How Rapid City compares with other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls pays LPNs the most in South Dakota at $53,520 a year, $1,300 more than Rapid City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rapid City at $52,220.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rapid City | LPNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $53,520 | $25.73 | +2% | 990 |
| 2 | Rapid City | $52,220 | $25.11 | this city | 340 |
Every metro area in South Dakota with LPN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota typical pay $52,750
Is Rapid City a good place to work as an LPN?
LPNs in Rapid City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $52,220 a year, 19% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rapid City area, about 4.6 are LPN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 4.2. LPN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an LPN make in Rapid City, SD?
- A typical LPN in Rapid City earns $52,220 a year, or $25.11 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $41,440 and the top 10% earn over $73,920.
- How much does an LPN make an hour in Rapid City?
- Typical hourly pay for LPNs in Rapid City is $25.11. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.92, and the top 10% earn over $35.54 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an LPN in Rapid City?
- Entry-level LPN positions in Rapid City typically offer around $19.92 an hour, or $41,440 a year.
- Is LPN pay in Rapid City higher than in the rest of South Dakota?
- Rapid City pay is 1% below the South Dakota figure of $52,750 a year, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state. Sioux Falls pays the most in South Dakota at $53,520.