Carpenters pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $63,400 or more. The middle half of carpenters in Rapid City earn between $44,380 and $60,070.
- $38K10th
- $44K25th
- $49KMedian
- $60K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,940 | $4,328 | $24.97 |
| Median | $48,640 | $4,053 | $23.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,380 | $3,698 | $21.34 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,070 | $5,006 | $28.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Carpenters pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Carpenters in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($51,330) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($65,630). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $60,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $51,940 | $48,640 | $37,750 | $63,400 | 870 |
| South Dakota | $51,330 | $48,140 | $37,720 | $65,890 | 4,560 |
| United States | $65,630 | $60,580 | $40,410 | $99,910 | 670,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Carpenters salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $51,940, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $43,914 a year, or $3,659 a month and $1,689 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 carpenters? 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 $51,940 buys what about $58,255 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Carpenters salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($52,940).
- Sioux Falls$52,940
- Rapid City$51,940
Highest-paying cities for carpenters
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,730).
- Fairbanks, AK$90,730
- San Francisco, CA$89,630
- Honolulu, HI$89,400
- Decatur, IL$88,510
- San Jose, CA$87,930
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Carpenters salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do carpenters make an hour in Rapid City?
$24.97 an hour on average, and $23.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level carpenters salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the carpenters take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $43,914 a year ($3,659 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,940. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do carpenters earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($65,630).
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 47-2031; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 2.73, this job is 2.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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