Recreation Workers pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,480 or more. The middle half of recreation workers in Rapid City earn between $35,990 and $50,270.
- $28K10th
- $36K25th
- $40KMedian
- $50K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $44,040 | $3,670 | $21.17 |
| Median | $39,850 | $3,321 | $19.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,990 | $2,999 | $17.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,270 | $4,189 | $24.17 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreation Workers pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Recreation workers in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($44,200) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($38,520). At the median the gap is +9% against the U.S. median of $36,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $44,040 | $39,850 | $28,290 | $66,480 | 100 |
| South Dakota | $44,200 | $42,270 | $32,390 | $60,470 | 650 |
| United States | $38,520 | $36,560 | $27,600 | $50,410 | 331,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Recreation Workers salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $44,040, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $37,566 a year, or $3,131 a month and $1,445 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 recreation workers? 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 $44,040 buys what about $49,394 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreation Workers 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$44,040
- Sioux Falls$43,310
Highest-paying cities for recreation workers
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,070).
- Fairbanks, AK$61,070
- San Jose, CA$54,750
- San Francisco, CA$48,810
- Seattle, WA$47,840
- Bozeman, MT$47,520
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Recreation Workers salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do recreation workers make an hour in Rapid City?
$21.17 an hour on average, and $19.16 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreation workers salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreation workers take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $37,566 a year ($3,131 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $44,040. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do recreation workers earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,520).
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 39-9032; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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