Nursing Assistants pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,100 or more. The middle half of nursing assistants in Rapid City earn between $38,500 and $43,860.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $38KMedian
- $44K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,150 | $3,346 | $19.30 |
| Median | $38,500 | $3,208 | $18.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,500 | $3,208 | $18.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,860 | $3,655 | $21.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nursing Assistants pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Nursing assistants in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($39,510) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($42,700). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $42,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $40,150 | $38,500 | $36,290 | $46,100 | 1,280 |
| South Dakota | $39,510 | $38,800 | $31,110 | $46,100 | 6,860 |
| United States | $42,700 | $42,260 | $33,940 | $51,980 | 1,448,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nursing Assistants salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $40,150, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $34,441 a year, or $2,870 a month and $1,325 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 nursing assistants? 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 $40,150 buys what about $45,031 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Nursing Assistants 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$40,150
- Sioux Falls$39,260
Highest-paying cities for nursing assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,370).
- San Jose, CA$59,370
- San Francisco, CA$56,700
- Seattle, WA$55,220
- Grants Pass, OR$52,720
- Portland, OR$52,660
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Nursing Assistants salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do nursing assistants make an hour in Rapid City?
$19.30 an hour on average, and $18.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nursing assistants salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,500, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nursing assistants take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $34,441 a year ($2,870 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,150. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do nursing assistants earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($42,700).
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 31-1131; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.3%.
- 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 1.86, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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