Massage Therapists pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $54,230 or more. The middle half of massage therapists in Rapid City earn between $44,160 and $52,970.
- $36K10th
- $44K25th
- $53KMedian
- $53K75th
- $54K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,930 | $4,078 | $23.52 |
| Median | $52,970 | $4,414 | $25.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,160 | $3,680 | $21.23 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $52,970 | $4,414 | $25.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Massage Therapists pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Massage therapists in Rapid City earn about the same as the South Dakota average ($48,790) and 23% less than the U.S. average ($63,830). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $58,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $48,930 | $52,970 | $35,720 | $54,230 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $48,790 | $52,000 | $35,720 | $56,310 | 180 |
| United States | $63,830 | $58,450 | $33,640 | $100,200 | 98,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Massage Therapists salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $48,930, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $41,495 a year, or $3,458 a month and $1,596 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 massage therapists? 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 $48,930 buys what about $54,879 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 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Massage Therapists 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$48,930
- Sioux Falls$47,220
Highest-paying cities for massage therapists
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($116,560).
- Fairbanks, AK$116,560
- Kahului, HI$101,690
- Seattle, WA$92,510
- Salem, OR$91,630
- Manchester, NH$87,500
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Massage Therapists salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do massage therapists make an hour in Rapid City?
$23.52 an hour on average, and $25.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level massage therapists salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the massage therapists take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $41,495 a year ($3,458 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,930. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do massage therapists earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,830).
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 31-9011; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.2%.
- 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 1.05, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.