Soil and Plant Scientists pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $120,970 or more. The middle half of soil and plant scientists in Rapid City earn between $57,330 and $102,530.
- $53K10th
- $57K25th
- $73KMedian
- $103K75th
- $121K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,050 | $7,004 | $40.41 |
| Median | $73,310 | $6,109 | $35.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,330 | $4,778 | $27.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,530 | $8,544 | $49.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Soil and Plant Scientists pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Soil and plant scientists in Rapid City earn 6% more than the South Dakota average ($79,240) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($87,720). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $78,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $84,050 | $73,310 | $52,820 | $120,970 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $79,240 | $73,590 | $51,980 | $120,970 | 480 |
| United States | $87,720 | $78,850 | $48,680 | $138,120 | 15,730 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Soil and Plant Scientists salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $84,050, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $67,959 a year, or $5,663 a month and $2,614 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 soil and plant scientists? 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 $84,050 buys what about $94,269 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Soil and Plant Scientists 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$84,050
- Sioux Falls$82,210
Highest-paying cities for soil and plant scientists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($124,130).
- San Francisco, CA$124,130
- Des Moines, IA$123,060
- San Jose, CA$122,130
- Salinas, CA$111,560
- Washington, DC$107,020
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Soil and Plant Scientists salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do soil and plant scientists make an hour in Rapid City?
$40.41 an hour on average, and $35.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level soil and plant scientists salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the soil and plant scientists take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $67,959 a year ($5,663 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,050. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do soil and plant scientists earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($87,720).
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 19-1013; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.7%.
- 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 6.03, this job is 6.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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