Airfield Operations Specialists pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,460 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,320 or more. The middle half of airfield operations specialists in Rapid City earn between $35,260 and $48,140.
- $30K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $48K75th
- $49K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,720 | $3,393 | $19.58 |
| Median | $37,940 | $3,162 | $18.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,260 | $2,938 | $16.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,140 | $4,012 | $23.14 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Airfield Operations Specialists pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Airfield operations specialists in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($40,240) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($63,610). At the median the gap is -33% against the U.S. median of $56,850.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $40,720 | $37,940 | $30,460 | $49,320 | 60 |
| South Dakota | $40,240 | $37,860 | $30,460 | $49,560 | 190 |
| United States | $63,610 | $56,850 | $35,870 | $102,120 | 15,190 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Airfield Operations Specialists salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $40,720, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $34,899 a year, or $2,908 a month and $1,342 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Rapid City a good place for airfield operations specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rapid City area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.2), so the average $40,720 buys what about $45,671 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 9.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Airfield Operations Specialists salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 1st of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Rapid City$40,720
- Sioux Falls$35,230
All Airfield Operations Specialists salaries in South Dakota
Highest-paying cities for airfield operations specialists
Cincinnati, OH pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($97,570).
- Cincinnati, OH$97,570
- San Jose, CA$95,480
- San Francisco, CA$94,180
- Seattle, WA$88,020
- Sacramento, CA$83,670
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Airfield Operations Specialists salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do airfield operations specialists make an hour in Rapid City?
$19.58 an hour on average, and $18.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level airfield operations specialists salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $30,460 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,260, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the airfield operations specialists take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $34,899 a year ($2,908 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,720. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do airfield operations specialists earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,610).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-2022; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 8.88, this job is 8.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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