Bartender Salary in Rapid City, SD
Bartenders in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median $29,500 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,883 take-home, or $2,157 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Rapid City, SD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,360
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,829
- Medicare (1.45%)$428
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,883
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Bartender pay by experience in Rapid City, SD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,680 | $13.31 | $24,404 | $2,034 |
| 25th percentile | $28,220 | $13.57 | $24,849 | $2,071 |
| Median (50th) | $29,500 | $14.18 | $25,883 | $2,157 |
| 75th percentile | $34,780 | $16.72 | $30,126 | $2,510 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,480 | $19.94 | $35,509 | $2,959 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,500 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 bartender's $25,883 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,030 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 1.9× the national concentration of bartender jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Rapid City, SD ranks #100 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 100 | Rapid City, SD | $29,500 | $25,883 | $29,030 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in South Dakota
- Sioux Falls, SD — $30,180
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Rapid City, SD?
The median bartender salary in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $29,500 a year, or about $14.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,220 and $34,780.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Rapid City, SD?
On the median $29,500 salary, a single filer living in South Dakota takes home about $25,883 a year ($2,157 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Rapid City, SD a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,030 would in a typical U.S. city. Rapid City, SD ranks #100 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender 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) — 46% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rapid City, SD
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,960
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,670
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,570
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,440
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,020