Carpenter Salary in Rapid City, SD
Carpenters in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median $48,640 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,262 take-home, or $3,439 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Rapid City, SD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,657
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,016
- Medicare (1.45%)$705
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,262
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Rapid City, SD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,750 | $18.15 | $32,512 | $2,709 |
| 25th percentile | $44,380 | $21.34 | $37,839 | $3,153 |
| Median (50th) | $48,640 | $23.38 | $41,262 | $3,439 |
| 75th percentile | $60,070 | $28.88 | $50,446 | $4,204 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $63,400 | $30.48 | $53,122 | $4,427 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,640 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 carpenter's $41,262 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,279 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 2.7× the national concentration of carpenter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Rapid City, SD ranks #120 of 194 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | $65,132 | $70,088 |
| 2 | Peoria, IL | $75,280 | $58,208 | $63,803 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | $72,770 | $56,566 | $61,382 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $75,520 | $58,402 | $60,797 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $65,520 | $52,922 | $58,591 |
| 120 | Rapid City, SD | $48,640 | $41,262 | $46,279 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in South Dakota
- Sioux Falls, SD — $49,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Rapid City, SD?
The median carpenter salary in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $48,640 a year, or about $23.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,380 and $60,070.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Rapid City, SD?
On the median $48,640 salary, a single filer living in South Dakota takes home about $41,262 a year ($3,439 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Rapid City, SD a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,279 would in a typical U.S. city. Rapid City, SD ranks #120 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter 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) — 29% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rapid City, SD
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $77,900
- Electrician — $61,160
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $48,300