Bookkeeper salary in Rapid City, SD
Rapid City pays bookkeepers more than South Dakota as a whole but less than the country. The median is $46,810 a year1: 1.0% above the South Dakota statewide median of $46,340 and 7.6% below the US median of $50,670. Nationally it ranks #304 of 521 areas. BLS counts about 1,720 people in this job here, 17% of the South Dakota total.
BLS occupation 43-3031, area Rapid City, SD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Rapid City against South Dakota and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | $35,170 | $46,810 | $59,990 | |
| South Dakota | $35,730 | $46,340 | $59,140 | |
| United States | $36,000 | $50,670 | $74,550 |
The middle half of bookkeepers in Rapid City earns $39,050–$52,910. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $59,990, only 1.7 times the bottom tenth, against 2.1 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($46,620) is no higher than the median, so few high earners skew the figures here. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $13,860 wide, between the figure for South Dakota ($12,630) and the US figure ($17,950).
What to budget for a bookkeeper here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,170 | $2,931 | $16.91 | $45,381 |
| 25th percentile | $39,050 | $3,254 | $18.77 | $50,387 |
| Median | $46,810 | $3,901 | $22.50 | $60,400 |
| 75th percentile | $52,910 | $4,409 | $25.44 | $68,271 |
| 90th percentile | $59,990 | $4,999 | $28.84 | $77,406 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,760 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,100, or about $7,871 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $50,670 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Rapid City, and the South Dakota statewide median of $46,340 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Rapid City
At the $46,810 median, a local hire costs about $60,400 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $13,590 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for bookkeepers we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Rapid City
Of the 14 roles we track in Rapid City, this one ranks #10 by median pay, between e-commerce order specialists ($48,360) and payroll specialists ($46,060). Accountant is the highest at $79,270.
| Role | Median | vs bookkeeper | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Development Representative | +8.3% | 130 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +3.3% | 40 | |
| Bookkeeper | this role | 1,720 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -1.6% | 70 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -10.9% | 990 |
Measured against the US median, bookkeepers rank #5 of the 14 roles we track in Rapid City (-7.6%), between accountants (-5.3%) and paralegals (-9.8%). The typical role here is at -12.5%, so, measured against the US, bookkeepers cost more in Rapid City than the area's general pay level would suggest. Bookkeepers hold 23.1% of the jobs in these 14 roles in Rapid City, 23.7% across South Dakota and 9.4% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in South Dakota
Across the 4 areas of South Dakota with data for this job, the median runs from $45,140 in the East South Dakota nonmetro area to $46,910 in Sioux Falls, a gap of $1,770 a year. Of the 2 areas in South Dakota with more bookkeepers than Rapid City, 1 pays less: the East South Dakota nonmetro area ($45,140).
| Area | Median | vs Rapid City | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | +0.2% | 3,390 | |
| Rapid City, SD | this area | 1,720 | |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | -2.2% | 1,540 | |
| East South Dakota (Nonmetro) | -3.6% | 3,300 |
Rapid City against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Rapid City is #146 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside South Dakota, Williamsport and Colorado Springs pay just above Rapid City and Bloomington and Myrtle Beach-Conway just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in Rapid City. Of the three markets with about as many bookkeepers, all three pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Rapid City | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | +17.6% | 1,730 | jobs | |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | +13.9% | 1,760 | jobs | |
| Ogden, UT | +5.6% | 1,700 | jobs | |
| Colorado Springs, CO | +0.1% | 2,910 | pay | |
| Williamsport, PA | +0.1% | 340 | pay | |
| Rapid City, SD | this area | 1,720 | ||
| Bloomington, IN | -0.0% | 710 | pay | |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC | -0.0% | 1,370 | pay |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a bookkeeper in Rapid City, SD?
About $60,400 a year at the median, or $5,033 a month: $46,810 in pay plus about $13,590 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do bookkeepers earn in Rapid City?
The median was $46,810 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $35,170, the 90th $59,990, and the middle half earned $39,050 to $52,910.
Is Rapid City cheaper than the rest of South Dakota for bookkeepers?
No, it costs more: a median of $46,810 against $46,340 statewide. The next area up in South Dakota is Sioux Falls at $46,910, the next down the West South Dakota nonmetro area at $45,760.
How many bookkeepers work in Rapid City?
BLS counts about 1,720 in the May 2025 survey. That is 17% of the South Dakota total of 10,200. Only Sioux Falls and the East South Dakota nonmetro area have more in South Dakota.
Does a bookkeeper cost more than a payroll specialist in Rapid City?
Yes: $750 a year more at the median. The medians are $46,810 and $46,060.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-3031: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.