Cost of hiring in Rapid City, SD
Bookkeeper is the largest of these 14 jobs in Rapid City, with about 1,720 people1. Medians run from $37,990 a year for virtual receptionists to $79,270 for accountants.
Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Median pay by role in Rapid City
| Role | Median per year | vs US median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce Order Specialist | +4.7% | 40 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -0.1% | 1,240 | |
| Recruiter | -1.3% | 230 | |
| Accountant | -5.3% | 840 | |
| Bookkeeper | -7.6% | 1,720 | |
| Paralegal | -9.8% | 150 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -12.2% | 990 | |
| Office Manager | -12.7% | 320 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -14.0% | 1,010 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -20.9% | 70 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -21.7% | 220 | |
| Project Coordinator | -27.0% | 330 | |
| Executive Assistant | -27.5% | 170 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -27.5% | 130 |
The employer pays more than the wage: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, so a $46,810 median for bookkeepers, the largest of these jobs here, comes to about $60,400 a year. That is an estimate: benefit levels vary by employer.
Rapid City against the US
Rapid City pays above the US median for only one of the 14 roles, e-commerce order specialists (+4.7%), and below it for 12, furthest for sales development representatives (-27.5%). For virtual receptionists it is within 1% of the US figure. The middle gap across all 14 is -12.5%: for most of these roles, hiring costs less here than at the US median. Its best national standing is for e-commerce order specialists, #45 of 287 areas by median pay; its lowest is for project coordinators, #498 of 518.
Compared with the US mix of these jobs, Rapid City has more virtual receptionists (16.6% of these jobs here, against 6.2% nationally) and bookkeepers (23.1% against 9.4%), and fewer sales development representatives (1.7% against 8.6%) and office managers (4.3% against 9.8%). Metro areas in other states with the closest overall pay level, measured the same way, are listed below; Fayetteville, NC is nearest, at -12.4%.
| Area | Middle gap to the US | Roles with data | Jobs in these roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | -12.4% | 17 | 11,520 |
| Rapid City, SD | -12.5% (this area) | 14 | 7,460 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | -12.5% | 17 | 19,990 |
| Grand Island, NE | -12.5% | 13 | 2,920 |
| Waco, TX | -12.5% | 17 | 13,190 |
| Lima, OH | -12.6% | 16 | 3,780 |
How far pay spreads inside each role
From the 10th to the 90th percentile, marketing specialists in Rapid City span $42,910–$104,530, the widest band (2.4×); e-commerce order specialists the narrowest, $36,100–$52,770. Offers cluster nearer the median than nationally for 13 of 14 roles, sales development representatives most ($37,980–$148,840 across the US). Budget from the median for project coordinators, marketing specialists, sales development representatives and 1 more role: a few well-paid jobs lift the average ($87,520 against a $74,700 median for project coordinators).
Rapid City against South Dakota
Against South Dakota as a whole, Rapid City pays more for 2 of 14 roles, led by recruiters (+10.9%) and bookkeepers (+1.0%), and less for 7, most of all sales development representatives (-17.9%). It has the highest median in South Dakota for recruiters and e-commerce order specialists, and the lowest for project coordinators, paralegals and sales development representatives and 1 more role.
Other areas in South Dakota
By jobs in these roles, Rapid City is #3 of 4 areas in South Dakota. The table shows the other 3.
| Area | Jobs in these roles | Roles with data |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 17,770 | 16 |
| East South Dakota (Nonmetro) | 11,180 | 15 |
| West South Dakota (Nonmetro) | 5,600 | 14 |
Questions
Which role costs the most to hire in Rapid City?
Of the 14 roles we track, Accountant: a median of $79,270 a year, about $102,284 with benefits; the lowest is Virtual Receptionist, $37,990.
Is hiring in Rapid City cheaper than the US median?
For 12 of the 14 roles, yes, most of all sales development representatives (-27.5%). One pays more than the US median: e-commerce order specialists (+4.7%).
Sources
2 sources, with links
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.