Bus Drivers, School pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,540 or more. The middle half of bus drivers, school in Rapid City earn between $39,770 and $48,920.
- $39K10th
- $40K25th
- $40KMedian
- $49K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $43,660 | $3,638 | $20.99 |
| Median | $40,330 | $3,361 | $19.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,770 | $3,314 | $19.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,920 | $4,077 | $23.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bus Drivers, School pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Bus drivers, school in Rapid City earn 6% more than the South Dakota average ($41,380) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($48,430). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $47,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $43,660 | $40,330 | $38,990 | $50,540 | 170 |
| South Dakota | $41,380 | $39,730 | $33,480 | $50,530 | 1,290 |
| United States | $48,430 | $47,920 | $29,240 | $65,730 | 402,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bus Drivers, School salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $43,660, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $37,261 a year, or $3,105 a month and $1,433 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 bus drivers, school? 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 $43,660 buys what about $48,968 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Bus Drivers, School 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$43,660
- Sioux Falls$38,380
Highest-paying cities for bus drivers, school
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,900).
- San Jose, CA$70,900
- San Francisco, CA$69,190
- Napa, CA$68,150
- Mount Vernon, WA$68,110
- Seattle, WA$67,350
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Bus Drivers, School salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do bus drivers, school make an hour in Rapid City?
$20.99 an hour on average, and $19.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bus drivers, school salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bus drivers, school take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $37,261 a year ($3,105 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $43,660. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do bus drivers, school earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($48,430).
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 53-3051; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 0.90, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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