Firefighters pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,050 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,220 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Rapid City earn between $48,160 and $59,800.
- $36K10th
- $48K25th
- $48KMedian
- $60K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,540 | $4,462 | $25.74 |
| Median | $48,160 | $4,013 | $23.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,160 | $4,013 | $23.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,800 | $4,983 | $28.75 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Firefighters in Rapid City earn 5% more than the South Dakota average ($51,180) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $53,540 | $48,160 | $36,050 | $68,220 | 220 |
| South Dakota | $51,180 | $48,160 | $39,240 | $61,420 | 610 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $53,540, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $45,199 a year, or $3,767 a month and $1,738 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 firefighters? 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 $53,540 buys what about $60,049 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 7.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters 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$53,540
- Sioux Falls$52,600
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Rapid City?
$25.74 an hour on average, and $23.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,050 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $45,199 a year ($3,767 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,540. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do firefighters earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
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 33-2011; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- 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 1.36, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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