Childcare Workers pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $40,720 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Rapid City earn between $27,290 and $37,850.
- $27K10th
- $27K25th
- $28KMedian
- $38K75th
- $41K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15.38 |
| Median | $28,330 | $2,361 | $13.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,290 | $2,274 | $13.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,850 | $3,154 | $18.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Rapid City earn 8% more than the South Dakota average ($29,720) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $32,000 | $28,330 | $26,550 | $40,720 | 300 |
| South Dakota | $29,720 | $27,940 | $26,500 | $37,840 | 2,370 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $32,000, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $27,892 a year, or $2,324 a month and $1,073 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 childcare workers? 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 $32,000 buys what about $35,891 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 11.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 1st of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Rapid City$32,000
- Sioux Falls$29,920
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Rapid City?
$15.38 an hour on average, and $13.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $26,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,290, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $27,892 a year ($2,324 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $32,000. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do childcare workers earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
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 39-9011; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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