Cargo and Freight Agents pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $81,500 or more. The middle half of cargo and freight agents in Rapid City earn between $62,770 and $80,650.
- $58K10th
- $63K25th
- $65KMedian
- $81K75th
- $82K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,350 | $5,612 | $32.38 |
| Median | $65,440 | $5,453 | $31.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,770 | $5,231 | $30.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,650 | $6,721 | $38.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cargo and Freight Agents pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Cargo and freight agents in Rapid City earn 4% more than the South Dakota average ($65,000) and 18% more than the U.S. average ($57,230). At the median the gap is +25% against the U.S. median of $52,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $67,350 | $65,440 | $58,240 | $81,500 | 30 |
| South Dakota | $65,000 | $64,340 | $49,730 | $80,160 | 200 |
| United States | $57,230 | $52,260 | $38,340 | $79,810 | 97,670 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cargo and Freight Agents salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $67,350, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $56,211 a year, or $4,684 a month and $2,162 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% 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 cargo and freight agents? 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 $67,350 buys what about $75,538 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 5.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Cargo and Freight Agents 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$67,350
- Sioux Falls$64,660
Highest-paying cities for cargo and freight agents
Hartford, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,770).
- Hartford, CT$71,770
- New Haven, CT$71,180
- San Francisco, CA$70,340
- Trenton, NJ$68,490
- Vallejo, CA$68,470
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Cargo and Freight Agents salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do cargo and freight agents make an hour in Rapid City?
$32.38 an hour on average, and $31.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cargo and freight agents salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cargo and freight agents take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $56,211 a year ($4,684 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,350. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do cargo and freight agents earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% more than the U.S. average for this job ($57,230).
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 43-5011; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
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