Graphic Designers pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,790 or more. The middle half of graphic designers in Rapid City earn between $44,300 and $64,540.
- $37K10th
- $44K25th
- $50KMedian
- $65K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,760 | $4,480 | $25.85 |
| Median | $49,990 | $4,166 | $24.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,300 | $3,692 | $21.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,540 | $5,378 | $31.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Graphic Designers pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Graphic designers in Rapid City earn 6% more than the South Dakota average ($50,880) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($70,560). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $62,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $53,760 | $49,990 | $36,900 | $77,790 | 80 |
| South Dakota | $50,880 | $48,390 | $36,290 | $66,620 | 470 |
| United States | $70,560 | $62,960 | $39,520 | $104,910 | 197,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Graphic Designers salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $53,760, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $45,376 a year, or $3,781 a month and $1,745 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 graphic designers? 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 $53,760 buys what about $60,296 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 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.
Graphic Designers 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$53,760
- Sioux Falls$51,900
Highest-paying cities for graphic designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,360).
- San Jose, CA$107,360
- San Francisco, CA$102,130
- Portland, OR$92,530
- Washington, DC$89,540
- New York, NY$85,950
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Graphic Designers salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do graphic designers make an hour in Rapid City?
$25.85 an hour on average, and $24.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level graphic designers salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,300, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the graphic designers take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $45,376 a year ($3,781 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,760. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do graphic designers earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($70,560).
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 27-1024; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 0.85, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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