Helpers--Carpenters pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,550 or more. The middle half of helpers--carpenters in Rapid City earn between $29,880 and $36,500.
- $28K10th
- $30K25th
- $31KMedian
- $36K75th
- $46K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $33,760 | $2,813 | $16.23 |
| Median | $30,900 | $2,575 | $14.86 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,880 | $2,490 | $14.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $36,500 | $3,042 | $17.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Helpers--Carpenters pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Helpers--carpenters in Rapid City earn 5% less than the South Dakota average ($35,600) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($44,050). At the median the gap is -29% against the U.S. median of $43,780.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $33,760 | $30,900 | $28,490 | $45,550 | 40 |
| South Dakota | $35,600 | $34,700 | $27,420 | $46,370 | 330 |
| United States | $44,050 | $43,780 | $31,660 | $57,670 | 21,680 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Helpers--Carpenters salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $33,760, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $29,306 a year, or $2,442 a month and $1,127 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 helpers--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 $33,760 buys what about $37,865 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 11.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Helpers--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 ($35,710).
- Sioux Falls$35,710
- Rapid City$33,760
Highest-paying cities for helpers--carpenters
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($62,310).
- Los Angeles, CA$62,310
- San Francisco, CA$60,900
- Santa Cruz, CA$58,160
- Wenatchee, WA$52,960
- New Haven, CT$52,920
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Helpers--Carpenters salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do helpers--carpenters make an hour in Rapid City?
$16.23 an hour on average, and $14.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level helpers--carpenters salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the helpers--carpenters take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $29,306 a year ($2,442 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $33,760. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do helpers--carpenters earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($44,050).
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 47-3012; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 3.79, this job is 3.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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