Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,320 or more. The middle half of elementary school teachers (except special education) in Rapid City earn between $48,000 and $59,620.
- $48K10th
- $48K25th
- $59KMedian
- $60K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,710 | $4,642 | — |
| Median | $59,480 | $4,957 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,000 | $4,000 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,620 | $4,968 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Elementary school teachers (except special education) in Rapid City earn 6% more than the South Dakota average ($52,680) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($72,650). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $63,970.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $55,710 | $59,480 | $48,000 | $60,320 | 530 |
| South Dakota | $52,680 | $50,130 | $47,120 | $60,180 | 4,290 |
| United States | $72,650 | $63,970 | $47,960 | $104,340 | 1,388,390 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $55,710, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $46,943 a year, or $3,912 a month and $1,805 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 elementary school teachers (except special education)? 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 $55,710 buys what about $62,483 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 6.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 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$55,710
- Sioux Falls$51,830
All Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries in South Dakota
Highest-paying cities for elementary school teachers (except special education)
Mount Vernon, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($106,760).
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,760
- El Centro, CA$105,390
- Merced, CA$103,340
- San Jose, CA$102,340
- Seattle, WA$102,290
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary by city
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Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salary in Rapid City: questions
What is the entry-level elementary school teachers (except special education) salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the elementary school teachers (except special education) take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $46,943 a year ($3,912 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,710. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do elementary school teachers (except special education) earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($72,650).
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 25-2021; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 0.80, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.80).
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