Registered Nurse Salary in Rapid City, SD
Registered Nurses in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median $79,380 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,674 take-home, or $5,389 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Rapid City, SD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,634
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,922
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,151
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,674
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Rapid City, SD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,790 | $31.15 | $54,239 | $4,520 |
| 25th percentile | $69,090 | $33.22 | $57,435 | $4,786 |
| Median (50th) | $79,380 | $38.16 | $64,674 | $5,389 |
| 75th percentile | $98,220 | $47.22 | $77,928 | $6,494 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,740 | $47.47 | $78,294 | $6,524 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,380 buys in Rapid City, SD
Prices in Rapid City, SD are 10.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 27% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median registered nurse's $64,674 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,537 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rapid City, SD has 1.6× the national concentration of registered nurse jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Rapid City, SD ranks #94 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 94 | Rapid City, SD | $79,380 | $64,674 | $72,537 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
About the job: registered nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in South Dakota
- Sioux Falls, SD — $75,350
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Rapid City, SD?
The median registered nurse salary in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $79,380 a year, or about $38.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $69,090 and $98,220.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Rapid City, SD?
On the median $79,380 salary, a single filer living in South Dakota takes home about $64,674 a year ($5,389 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Rapid City, SD a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,537 would in a typical U.S. city. Rapid City, SD ranks #94 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Rapid City, SD?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rapid City, SD is $1,001 a month ($1,314 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.