Food Preparation Worker Salary in Rapid City, SD
Food Preparation Workers in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median $30,670 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,823 take-home, or $2,235 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Rapid City, SD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,500
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,902
- Medicare (1.45%)$445
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$26,823
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Rapid City, SD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $25,710 | $12.36 | $22,782 | $1,899 |
| 25th percentile | $28,170 | $13.54 | $24,808 | $2,067 |
| Median (50th) | $30,670 | $14.75 | $26,823 | $2,235 |
| 75th percentile | $34,140 | $16.41 | $29,611 | $2,468 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,790 | $18.65 | $33,348 | $2,779 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $30,670 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 food preparation worker's $26,823 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,085 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 1.4× the national concentration of food preparation worker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Rapid City, SD ranks #96 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 96 | Rapid City, SD | $30,670 | $26,823 | $30,085 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in South Dakota
- Sioux Falls, SD — $30,360
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Rapid City, SD?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $30,670 a year, or about $14.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,170 and $34,140.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Rapid City, SD?
On the median $30,670 salary, a single filer living in South Dakota takes home about $26,823 a year ($2,235 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Rapid City, SD a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,085 would in a typical U.S. city. Rapid City, SD ranks #96 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 45% of a median food preparation worker’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
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,570
- Bartender — $29,500
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,440
- Waiter and Waitress — $29,020