Veterinarians pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,050 or more. The middle half of veterinarians in Rapid City earn between $75,830 and $102,590.
- $63K10th
- $76K25th
- $90KMedian
- $103K75th
- $127K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,830 | $7,652 | $44.15 |
| Median | $90,410 | $7,534 | $43.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,830 | $6,319 | $36.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,590 | $8,549 | $49.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Veterinarians pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Veterinarians in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($93,990) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($142,680). At the median the gap is -31% against the U.S. median of $130,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $91,830 | $90,410 | $62,790 | $127,050 | 60 |
| South Dakota | $93,990 | $88,650 | $61,640 | $128,920 | 280 |
| United States | $142,680 | $130,100 | $73,920 | $215,700 | 83,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Veterinarians salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $91,830, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $73,432 a year, or $6,119 a month and $2,824 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 veterinarians? 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 $91,830 buys what about $102,995 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Veterinarians salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($104,030).
- Sioux Falls$104,030
- Rapid City$91,830
Highest-paying cities for veterinarians
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($215,060).
- Anchorage, AK$215,060
- San Francisco, CA$195,160
- Tucson, AZ$193,390
- San Jose, CA$192,030
- Phoenix, AZ$186,840
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Veterinarians salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do veterinarians make an hour in Rapid City?
$44.15 an hour on average, and $43.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level veterinarians salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the veterinarians take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $73,432 a year ($6,119 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,830. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do veterinarians earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% less than the U.S. average for this job ($142,680).
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 29-1131; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.8%.
- 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 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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