How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make in Rapid City, SD in 2026?
Typical pay for Medical 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 Medical Assistant in Rapid City, South Dakota earns $19.56 per hour, or $40,690 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,391 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,190, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,920.
That pay is 3% below the South Dakota figure of $41,870 and 11% below the national figure of $45,690. Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in South Dakota for Medical Assistant pay. About 240 Medical Assistants work in the Rapid City area.
Medical Assistant pay in Rapid City at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.56 an hour, or $40,690 a year.
- That is 3% below the South Dakota figure, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,190; the top 10% make over $47,920.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +48% for South Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Medical Assistant make in Rapid City?
Pay in Rapid City runs from entry-level positions at around $17.40 an hour to more than $23.04 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Dakota and national figures.
Medical Assistant pay by career stage in Rapid City
| Career stage | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,190$17.40 an hour | $35,980$17.30 an hour | $36,050$17.33 an hour |
| First years | $36,190$17.40 an hour | $37,730$18.14 an hour | $38,470$18.50 an hour |
| Typical Medical Assistant | $40,690$19.56 an hour | $41,870$20.13 an hour | $45,690$21.97 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,030$21.65 an hour | $45,870$22.05 an hour | $49,180$23.65 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,920$23.04 an hour | $48,960$23.54 an hour | $59,310$28.52 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rapid City area as BLS defines it
Medical Assistant pay growth in Rapid City
Typical (median) annual wage for Medical 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 Medical Assistant pay in Rapid City was $27,270 a year. By 2025 it had reached $40,690, a change of +49%, compared with +48% for South Dakota over the same years.
How Rapid City compares with other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls pays Medical Assistants the most in South Dakota at $43,760 a year, $3,070 more than Rapid City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rapid City at $40,690.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rapid City | Medical Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $43,760 | $21.04 | +8% | 620 |
| 2 | Rapid City | $40,690 | $19.56 | this city | 240 |
Every metro area in South Dakota with Medical Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota typical pay $41,870
Is Rapid City a good place to work as a Medical Assistant?
Medical Assistants in Rapid City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $40,690 a year, 11% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rapid City area, about 3.3 are Medical Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 5.2. That makes Medical Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Assistant make in Rapid City, SD?
- A typical Medical Assistant in Rapid City earns $40,690 a year, or $19.56 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,190 and the top 10% earn over $47,920.
- How much does a Medical Assistant make an hour in Rapid City?
- Typical hourly pay for Medical Assistants in Rapid City is $19.56. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.40, and the top 10% earn over $23.04 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Medical Assistant in Rapid City?
- Entry-level Medical Assistant positions in Rapid City typically offer around $17.40 an hour, or $36,190 a year.
- Is Medical Assistant pay in Rapid City higher than in the rest of South Dakota?
- Rapid City pay is 3% below the South Dakota figure of $41,870 a year, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state. Sioux Falls pays the most in South Dakota at $43,760.