Photographers pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,690 or more. The middle half of photographers in Rapid City earn between $34,980 and $49,710.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $40KMedian
- $50K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,740 | $3,478 | $20.07 |
| Median | $39,780 | $3,315 | $19.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,980 | $2,915 | $16.82 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,710 | $4,142 | $23.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Photographers pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Photographers in Rapid City earn 5% less than the South Dakota average ($43,740) and 25% less than the U.S. average ($55,410). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $44,660.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $41,740 | $39,780 | $31,150 | $50,690 | 30 |
| South Dakota | $43,740 | $45,330 | $31,150 | $54,750 | 190 |
| United States | $55,410 | $44,660 | $30,820 | $91,810 | 51,760 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Photographers salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $41,740, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $35,718 a year, or $2,977 a month and $1,374 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 photographers? 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 $41,740 buys what about $46,815 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 9.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographers salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 2nd of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job; Sioux Falls pays the most ($45,310).
- Sioux Falls$45,310
- Rapid City$41,740
Highest-paying cities for photographers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($83,790).
- San Francisco, CA$83,790
- San Jose, CA$75,490
- Los Angeles, CA$73,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$72,250
- Santa Maria, CA$72,200
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Photographers salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do photographers make an hour in Rapid City?
$20.07 an hour on average, and $19.13 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographers salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographers take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $35,718 a year ($2,977 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,740. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do photographers earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. average for this job ($55,410).
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 27-4021; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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