Machinists pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,650 a year or less, while the top 10% make $61,370 or more. The middle half of machinists in Rapid City earn between $45,180 and $57,320.
- $40K10th
- $45K25th
- $48KMedian
- $57K75th
- $61K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,410 | $4,284 | $24.72 |
| Median | $47,840 | $3,987 | $23.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,180 | $3,765 | $21.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,320 | $4,777 | $27.56 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Machinists in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($51,860) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $51,410 | $47,840 | $39,650 | $61,370 | 70 |
| South Dakota | $51,860 | $50,890 | $39,280 | $60,840 | 830 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $51,410, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $43,488 a year, or $3,624 a month and $1,673 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 machinists? 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 $51,410 buys what about $57,660 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 7.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($54,720).
- Sioux Falls$54,720
- Rapid City$51,410
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Rapid City?
$24.72 an hour on average, and $23.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $39,650 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $43,488 a year ($3,624 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,410. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do machinists earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
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 51-4041; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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