Public Relations Specialists pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,180 a year or less, while the top 10% make $119,740 or more. The middle half of public relations specialists in Rapid City earn between $55,510 and $97,470.
- $50K10th
- $56K25th
- $81KMedian
- $97K75th
- $120K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $81,210 | $6,768 | $39.04 |
| Median | $81,330 | $6,778 | $39.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $55,510 | $4,626 | $26.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,470 | $8,122 | $46.86 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Public Relations Specialists pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Public relations specialists in Rapid City earn 13% more than the South Dakota average ($71,890) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($84,120). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $74,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $81,210 | $81,330 | $50,180 | $119,740 | 40 |
| South Dakota | $71,890 | $64,520 | $48,460 | $102,480 | 210 |
| United States | $84,120 | $74,750 | $44,110 | $135,150 | 283,380 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Public Relations Specialists salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $81,210, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $65,961 a year, or $5,497 a month and $2,537 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 public relations specialists? 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 $81,210 buys what about $91,083 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Public Relations Specialists 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$81,210
- Sioux Falls$71,630
Highest-paying cities for public relations specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($126,870).
- San Jose, CA$126,870
- Washington, DC$116,930
- San Francisco, CA$114,310
- Lexington Park, MD$107,990
- Kennewick, WA$102,230
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Public Relations Specialists salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do public relations specialists make an hour in Rapid City?
$39.04 an hour on average, and $39.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level public relations specialists salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,180 a year and the 25th percentile is $55,510, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the public relations specialists take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $65,961 a year ($5,497 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $81,210. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do public relations specialists earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($84,120).
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 27-3031; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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