How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in Rapid City, SD in 2026?
Typical pay for Physician 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 Physician Assistant in Rapid City, South Dakota earns $62.86 per hour, or $130,740 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $10,895 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $97,110, and the top 10% of earners make over $157,950.
That pay is 2% below the South Dakota figure of $133,200 and 4% below the national figure of $135,880. Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 metro areas in South Dakota for Physician Assistant pay. About 150 Physician Assistants work in the Rapid City area.
Physician Assistant pay in Rapid City at a glance
- Typical pay is $62.86 an hour, or $130,740 a year.
- That is 2% below the South Dakota figure, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $97,110; the top 10% make over $157,950.
- Typical pay rose +42% from 2015 to 2025, against +40% for South Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physician Assistant make in Rapid City?
Pay in Rapid City runs from entry-level positions at around $46.69 an hour to more than $75.94 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Dakota and national figures.
Physician Assistant pay by career stage in Rapid City
| Career stage | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $97,110$46.69 an hour | $104,660$50.32 an hour | $99,380$47.78 an hour |
| First years | $113,340$54.49 an hour | $112,570$54.12 an hour | $120,670$58.02 an hour |
| Typical Physician Assistant | $130,740$62.86 an hour | $133,200$64.04 an hour | $135,880$65.33 an hour |
| Experienced | $145,390$69.90 an hour | $142,330$68.43 an hour | $163,980$78.84 an hour |
| Top 10% | $157,950$75.94 an hour | $158,020$75.97 an hour | $190,280$91.48 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rapid City area as BLS defines it
Physician Assistant pay growth in Rapid City
Typical (median) annual wage for Physician 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 Physician Assistant pay in Rapid City was $91,820 a year. By 2025 it had reached $130,740, a change of +42%, compared with +40% for South Dakota over the same years.
How Rapid City compares with other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls pays Physician Assistants the most in South Dakota at $135,790 a year, $5,050 more than Rapid City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rapid City at $130,740.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rapid City | Physician Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sioux Falls | $135,790 | $65.28 | +4% | 290 |
| 2 | Rapid City | $130,740 | $62.86 | this city | 150 |
Every metro area in South Dakota with Physician Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota typical pay $133,200
Is Rapid City a good place to work as a Physician Assistant?
Physician Assistant pay in Rapid City sits close to the national figure: $130,740 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rapid City area, about 2.0 are Physician Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.0. That makes the local economy more reliant on Physician Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physician Assistant make in Rapid City, SD?
- A typical Physician Assistant in Rapid City earns $130,740 a year, or $62.86 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $97,110 and the top 10% earn over $157,950.
- How much does a Physician Assistant make an hour in Rapid City?
- Typical hourly pay for Physician Assistants in Rapid City is $62.86. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $46.69, and the top 10% earn over $75.94 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physician Assistant in Rapid City?
- Entry-level Physician Assistant positions in Rapid City typically offer around $46.69 an hour, or $97,110 a year.
- Is Physician Assistant pay in Rapid City higher than in the rest of South Dakota?
- Rapid City pay is 2% below the South Dakota figure of $133,200 a year, ranking 2nd of 2 metro areas in the state. Sioux Falls pays the most in South Dakota at $135,790.