Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $115,920 or more. The middle half of atmospheric and space scientists in Rapid City earn between $69,280 and $104,380.
- $68K10th
- $69K25th
- $104KMedian
- $104K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,780 | $7,898 | $45.57 |
| Median | $104,380 | $8,698 | $50.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,280 | $5,773 | $33.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,380 | $8,698 | $50.18 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Atmospheric and space scientists in Rapid City earn 6% more than the South Dakota average ($89,140) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($106,110). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $99,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $94,780 | $104,380 | $67,600 | $115,920 | 60 |
| South Dakota | $89,140 | $78,900 | $63,350 | $129,960 | 130 |
| United States | $106,110 | $99,070 | $53,060 | $161,890 | 10,000 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $94,780, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $75,508 a year, or $6,292 a month and $2,904 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Rapid City a good place for atmospheric and space scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rapid City area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.2), so the average $94,780 buys what about $106,303 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Fort Collins, CO$112,630
- Boulder, CO$123,680
- Denver, CO$96,750
- Colorado Springs, CO$113,080
- Omaha, NE$85,190
- Minneapolis, MN$117,720
Highest-paying cities for atmospheric and space scientists
Chicago, IL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,890).
- Chicago, IL$182,890
- New York, NY$172,010
- San Francisco, CA$164,020
- Albany, NY$130,860
- Indianapolis, IN$130,690
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Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make an hour in Rapid City?
$45.57 an hour on average, and $50.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level atmospheric and space scientists salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the atmospheric and space scientists take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $75,508 a year ($6,292 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,780. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do atmospheric and space scientists earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($106,110).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2021; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 12.28, this job is 12.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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