Lawyers pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $209,990 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Rapid City earn between $81,490 and $133,100.
- $78K10th
- $81K25th
- $99KMedian
- $133K75th
- $210K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $119,690 | $9,974 | $57.54 |
| Median | $99,430 | $8,286 | $47.80 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,490 | $6,791 | $39.18 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $133,100 | $11,092 | $63.99 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Lawyers in Rapid City earn 10% less than the South Dakota average ($132,270) and 36% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -38% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $119,690 | $99,430 | $77,790 | $209,990 | 260 |
| South Dakota | $132,270 | $102,040 | $76,920 | $234,690 | 1,360 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $119,690, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $93,032 a year, or $7,753 a month and $3,578 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 lawyers? 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 $119,690 buys what about $134,242 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($138,000).
- Sioux Falls$138,000
- Rapid City$119,690
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Rapid City?
$57.54 an hour on average, and $47.80 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $93,032 a year ($7,753 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $119,690. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do lawyers earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 36% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
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 23-1011; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.0%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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