Forest and Conservation Technicians pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,950 a year or less, while the top 10% make $86,530 or more. The middle half of forest and conservation technicians in Rapid City earn between $47,940 and $73,630.
- $45K10th
- $48K25th
- $58KMedian
- $74K75th
- $87K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,480 | $5,290 | $30.52 |
| Median | $57,660 | $4,805 | $27.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,940 | $3,995 | $23.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,630 | $6,136 | $35.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Forest and Conservation Technicians pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Forest and conservation technicians in Rapid City earn 6% more than the South Dakota average ($60,160) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($59,060). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $54,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $63,480 | $57,660 | $44,950 | $86,530 | 120 |
| South Dakota | $60,160 | $54,770 | $43,530 | $82,990 | 350 |
| United States | $59,060 | $54,560 | $40,330 | $83,630 | 30,410 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $63,480, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $53,186 a year, or $4,432 a month and $2,046 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 forest and conservation technicians? 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 $63,480 buys what about $71,198 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($67,770).
- Sioux Falls$67,770
- Rapid City$63,480
All Forest and Conservation Technicians salaries in South Dakota
Highest-paying cities for forest and conservation technicians
Santa Rosa, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($77,010).
- Santa Rosa, CA$77,010
- Baton Rouge, LA$76,770
- San Jose, CA$71,970
- Carson City, NV$70,640
- Milwaukee, WI$69,680
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Forest and Conservation Technicians salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do forest and conservation technicians make an hour in Rapid City?
$30.52 an hour on average, and $27.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forest and conservation technicians salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $44,950 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forest and conservation technicians take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $53,186 a year ($4,432 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,480. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do forest and conservation technicians earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. average for this job ($59,060).
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 19-4071; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.0%.
- 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 7.97, this job is 8.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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