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Rapid City engineer salary

Estimate

Updated March 2025

What engineers earn in the Rapid City, SD metro, with a full breakdown by role.

Typical pay

$90,563

Rapid City

Top earners

$142,140

Higher end

vs national

-25% vs national

U.S. $120,395

State

SD

South Dakota

Engineers in the Rapid City, SD metro earn an estimated $90,563, -25% vs national, with top earners near $142,140. See the full breakdown by role below, or estimate your own total compensation — the number sharpens as local engineers contribute.

Engineering pay by role in Rapid City

Estimated pay for each discipline in Rapid City. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.

16results

What affects engineering pay in Rapid City

  • ▹Local market. Rapid City pay runs -25% vs national for the typical engineer, usually above the South Dakota statewide estimate.
  • ▹Industry concentration.A metro's dominant employers (tech, defense, energy, healthcare) shift which engineering disciplines command a premium locally.
  • ▹Experience & specialization. Seniority and in-demand skills swing pay well beyond the metro median — see the role table above and the calculator.
  • ▹Remote work.Remote offers may anchor to a company's HQ market rather than Rapid City, raising or lowering local pay.

Other South Dakota metros

Sioux Falls engineer salary

Engineer salaries in Rapid City — FAQ

How much do engineers make in Rapid City?
Engineers in the Rapid City, SD metro earn a blended median of $90,563 per year — 25% below the national average — across 6 engineering occupations and 880 local jobs. There is no single BLS "engineer" occupation, so this blends the published medians of the engineering occupations reported for the area, weighted by local employment (BLS OEWS May 2024).
What is the highest-paying engineering role in Rapid City?
Engineering Managers have the highest published median in Rapid City, at $146,620 per year (BLS OEWS May 2024). Local industry concentration shifts which disciplines command the biggest premium.
How does engineering pay in Rapid City compare to the national average?
The Rapid City engineering median of $90,563 is 25% below the national average of $120,395, against a South Dakota statewide blend of $90,956.
Source details

BLS publishes no single "engineer" occupation. This blends the published medians of 6 engineering occupations in Rapid City, SD, weighted by local employment (880 jobs).

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

Estimate your salary →All of South Dakota →

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