Surveyors pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $109,030 or more. The middle half of surveyors in Rapid City earn between $68,890 and $97,620.
- $58K10th
- $69K25th
- $78KMedian
- $98K75th
- $109K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,220 | $6,935 | $40.01 |
| Median | $78,320 | $6,527 | $37.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,890 | $5,741 | $33.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,620 | $8,135 | $46.93 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Surveyors pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Surveyors in Rapid City earn 4% less than the South Dakota average ($86,630) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($80,570). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $75,440.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $83,220 | $78,320 | $58,270 | $109,030 | 40 |
| South Dakota | $86,630 | $77,190 | $59,690 | $122,560 | 180 |
| United States | $80,570 | $75,440 | $46,880 | $125,590 | 50,830 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Surveyors salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $83,220, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $67,375 a year, or $5,615 a month and $2,591 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 surveyors? 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 $83,220 buys what about $93,338 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 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.
Surveyors salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($91,220).
- Sioux Falls$91,220
- Rapid City$83,220
Highest-paying cities for surveyors
Yuba City, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($127,690).
- Yuba City, CA$127,690
- San Francisco, CA$126,380
- Redding, CA$124,490
- Sacramento, CA$120,210
- Stockton, CA$118,870
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Surveyors salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do surveyors make an hour in Rapid City?
$40.01 an hour on average, and $37.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level surveyors salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the surveyors take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $67,375 a year ($5,615 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,220. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do surveyors earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($80,570).
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 17-1022; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- 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 1.85, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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