Paramedics pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $75,450 or more. The middle half of paramedics in Rapid City earn between $30,140 and $57,080.
- $30K10th
- $30K25th
- $48KMedian
- $57K75th
- $75K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,650 | $3,971 | $22.91 |
| Median | $47,810 | $3,984 | $22.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $30,140 | $2,512 | $14.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,080 | $4,757 | $27.44 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paramedics pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Paramedics in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($48,290) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($63,360). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $60,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $47,650 | $47,810 | $30,140 | $75,450 | 40 |
| South Dakota | $48,290 | $48,830 | $30,950 | $58,380 | 280 |
| United States | $63,360 | $60,600 | $44,230 | $84,850 | 100,610 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Paramedics salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $47,650, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $40,467 a year, or $3,372 a month and $1,556 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 paramedics? 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 $47,650 buys what about $53,443 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 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Paramedics salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($51,410).
- Sioux Falls$51,410
- Rapid City$47,650
Highest-paying cities for paramedics
Bellingham, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,190).
- Bellingham, WA$119,190
- Seattle, WA$117,660
- Bremerton, WA$110,800
- Olympia, WA$109,680
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,520
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Paramedics salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do paramedics make an hour in Rapid City?
$22.91 an hour on average, and $22.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paramedics salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $30,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paramedics take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $40,467 a year ($3,372 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,650. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do paramedics earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,360).
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 29-2043; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.5%.
- 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 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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