Opticians, Dispensing pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $46,850 or more. The middle half of opticians, dispensing in Rapid City earn between $36,640 and $45,070.
- $32K10th
- $37K25th
- $39KMedian
- $45K75th
- $47K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,710 | $3,392 | $19.57 |
| Median | $38,760 | $3,230 | $18.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,640 | $3,053 | $17.62 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,070 | $3,756 | $21.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Opticians, Dispensing pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Opticians, dispensing in Rapid City earn 4% less than the South Dakota average ($42,560) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($51,770). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $47,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $40,710 | $38,760 | $32,010 | $46,850 | 60 |
| South Dakota | $42,560 | $43,400 | $32,390 | $49,730 | 430 |
| United States | $51,770 | $47,260 | $35,610 | $76,750 | 73,530 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Opticians, Dispensing salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $40,710, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $34,890 a year, or $2,908 a month and $1,342 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 opticians, dispensing? 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 $40,710 buys what about $45,659 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 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Opticians, Dispensing salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($43,880).
- Sioux Falls$43,880
- Rapid City$40,710
Highest-paying cities for opticians, dispensing
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($74,410).
- Bridgeport, CT$74,410
- Norwich, CT$72,040
- Waterbury, CT$70,540
- Santa Rosa, CA$70,420
- Syracuse, NY$70,310
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Opticians, Dispensing salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do opticians, dispensing make an hour in Rapid City?
$19.57 an hour on average, and $18.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level opticians, dispensing salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the opticians, dispensing take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $34,890 a year ($2,908 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,710. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do opticians, dispensing earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($51,770).
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 29-2081; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 1.68, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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