Waiter and Waitress Salary in Rapid City, SD
Waiters and Waitresses in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median $29,020 a year — 18% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,498 take-home, or $2,125 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median waiter and waitress salary in Rapid City, SD. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,302
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,799
- Medicare (1.45%)$421
- South Dakota income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,498
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Waiter and Waitress pay by experience in Rapid City, SD
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,530 | $13.24 | $24,281 | $2,023 |
| 25th percentile | $28,310 | $13.61 | $24,923 | $2,077 |
| Median (50th) | $29,020 | $13.95 | $25,498 | $2,125 |
| 75th percentile | $33,160 | $15.94 | $28,824 | $2,402 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $40,640 | $19.54 | $34,834 | $2,903 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, South Dakota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,020 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 waiter and waitress's $25,498 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,598 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 1.3× the national concentration of waiter and waitress jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for waiters and waitresses, adjusted for cost of living
Rapid City, SD ranks #181 of 375 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $82,550 | $62,160 | $56,823 |
| 2 | Burlington, VT | $61,620 | $50,061 | $49,591 |
| 3 | Bellingham, WA | $56,700 | $47,738 | $46,198 |
| 4 | Bremerton, WA | $55,270 | $46,589 | $44,116 |
| 5 | Mount Vernon, WA | $53,060 | $44,814 | $43,745 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $49,060 | $41,600 | $43,539 |
| 7 | Kennewick, WA | $51,460 | $43,528 | $43,494 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $57,280 | $48,204 | $43,375 |
| 181 | Rapid City, SD | $29,020 | $25,498 | $28,598 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 375 metros →
Waiter and Waitress salaries elsewhere in South Dakota
- Sioux Falls, SD — $29,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a waiter and waitress make in Rapid City, SD?
The median waiter and waitress salary in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $29,020 a year, or about $13.95 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $28,310 and $33,160.
What is a waiter and waitress’s take-home pay in Rapid City, SD?
On the median $29,020 salary, a single filer living in South Dakota takes home about $25,498 a year ($2,125 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Rapid City, SD a good place to work as a waiter and waitress?
Pay here is 18% below the national median of $35,230. Local prices are 10.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,598 would in a typical U.S. city. Rapid City, SD ranks #181 of 375 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a waiter and waitress 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) — 47% of a median waiter and waitress’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
- Bartender — $29,500
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $29,440