How Much Does an RN Make in Rapid City, SD in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs 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 RN in Rapid City, South Dakota earns $38.17 per hour, or $79,380 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,615 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,790, and the top 10% of earners make over $98,740.
That pay is 2% above the South Dakota figure of $78,060 and 19% below the national figure of $97,550. Rapid City ranks 1st of 2 metro areas in South Dakota for RN pay. About 2,480 RNs work in the Rapid City area.
RN pay in Rapid City at a glance
- Typical pay is $38.17 an hour, or $79,380 a year.
- That is 2% above the South Dakota figure, ranking 1st of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,790; the top 10% make over $98,740.
- Typical pay rose +37% from 2015 to 2025, against +46% for South Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Rapid City?
Pay in Rapid City runs from entry-level positions at around $31.15 an hour to more than $47.47 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Dakota and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Rapid City
| Career stage | Rapid City | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $64,790$31.15 an hour | $54,040$25.98 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $69,090$33.22 an hour | $65,070$31.29 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $79,380$38.17 an hour | $78,060$37.53 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $98,220$47.22 an hour | $84,280$40.52 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $98,740$47.47 an hour | $98,220$47.22 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rapid City area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Rapid City
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Rapid City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Rapid City was $57,830 a year. By 2025 it had reached $79,380, a change of +37%, compared with +46% for South Dakota over the same years.
How Rapid City compares with other South Dakota cities
Rapid City pays RNs the most of any metro area in South Dakota. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sioux Falls at $75,350.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rapid City | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid City | $79,380 | $38.17 | this city | 2,480 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls | $75,350 | $36.23 | -5% | 7,680 |
Every metro area in South Dakota with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Dakota typical pay $78,060
Is Rapid City a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Rapid City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $79,380 a year, 19% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rapid City area, about 34 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Rapid City, SD?
- A typical RN in Rapid City earns $79,380 a year, or $38.17 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $64,790 and the top 10% earn over $98,740.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Rapid City?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Rapid City is $38.17. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $31.15, and the top 10% earn over $47.47 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Rapid City?
- Entry-level RN positions in Rapid City typically offer around $31.15 an hour, or $64,790 a year.
- Is RN pay in Rapid City higher than in the rest of South Dakota?
- Rapid City pay is 2% above the South Dakota figure of $78,060 a year, ranking 1st of 2 metro areas in the state.