Civil Engineers pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,430 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Rapid City earn between $83,890 and $115,180.
- $73K10th
- $84K25th
- $100KMedian
- $115K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,340 | $8,445 | $48.72 |
| Median | $100,300 | $8,358 | $48.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $83,890 | $6,991 | $40.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $115,180 | $9,598 | $55.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($99,500) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $101,340 | $100,300 | $72,840 | $125,430 | 350 |
| South Dakota | $99,500 | $98,700 | $70,050 | $127,090 | 1,440 |
| United States | $108,670 | $100,840 | $68,240 | $163,220 | 367,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Civil Engineers salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $101,340, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $80,123 a year, or $6,677 a month and $3,082 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 civil engineers? 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 $101,340 buys what about $113,661 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($102,400).
- Sioux Falls$102,400
- Rapid City$101,340
Highest-paying cities for civil engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($137,910).
- San Jose, CA$137,910
- San Francisco, CA$136,350
- Napa, CA$130,620
- Sacramento, CA$129,650
- Redding, CA$124,340
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Civil Engineers salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Rapid City?
$48.72 an hour on average, and $48.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $83,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $80,123 a year ($6,677 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,340. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do civil engineers earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($108,670).
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 17-2051; 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 1.99, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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