Rapid City Employment

Employment and Industries in the Rapid City, South Dakota Area

The major assets for Rapid City's economy are government, tourism, agriculture, healthcare, professional services, and the Ellsworth Air Force Base. State, local and the federal government are major parts of the economy. Tourism is a significant factor for the city due to being close to five popular national park areas. Black Hills Gold, popular with tourists is manufactured in Rapid City. Ellsworth Air Force Base is the state's largest employer.

Rapid City is the region's trading hub for farm/ranch items. Cattle and sheep are major factors in the agricultural sector. Farming related service industries also add to the economy. In addition, mining of sand and gravel and the material for lime and cement are important for the economy.

Computer parts, printing, Native American crafts, farm and ranch equipment manufacturers and cement production, are components of the economy. Rapid City is also the headquarters for insurance companies and includes financial services and investment companies such as Citi Bank, Waddell and Reed, WaMU and Northwestern Mutual.

The Rapid City Regional Hospital Healthcare System is a major employer. Employment is also provided by several large construction firms, steel fabrication companies, trucking companies and rock quarries. Employment is provided by firms that produce wood products and steel products.

Approval has been given for a Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory which will be utilized for the areas of scientific research, technology and medicine.

The leading employers in the Rapid City region are shown below:

  • Ellsworth Air Force Base
  • Rapid City Regional Hospital
  • Rapid City School District
  • Federal Government
  • City of Rapid City
  • State of South Dakota
  • Walmart/Sams Club
  • Black Hills Corporation
  • Scull Construction Service, Inc
  • Titan Machinery

Rapid City's major nonagricultural employment providing segments:

  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Government
  • Healthcare
  • Educational services
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Professional and business services
  • Financial activities

Facts about Rapid City, South Dakota: Estimated median household income in 2007: $42,000. Cost of living index in 2008: 84.5 (national average: 100). Adult population that earned a bachelor's degree: 27%.

In Rapid City, companies are provided assistance from associations such as:

Those interested in staying up-to-date with Rapid City business and industry activities may want to read the Rapid City Journal.

Jobs in Rapid City

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations65600$42,260$20.32100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations9020$32,800$15.7713.75
3Sales and Related Occupations8320$35,790$17.219.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations7090$23,740$11.418.7
5Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations5350$75,010$36.065.85
6Transportation and Material Moving Occupations4690$34,820$16.746.7
7Construction and Extraction Occupations4210$40,830$19.634.6
8Retail Salespersons3300$30,970$14.892.7
9Educational Instruction and Library Occupations3280$43,300$20.826
10Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations3120$25,750$12.383.6
11Business and Financial Operations Occupations2860$66,430$31.945.35
12Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations2560$47,770$22.973.75
13Production Occupations2510$34,630$16.655.6
14Cashiers2480$23,430$11.262.2
15Personal Care and Service Occupations2390$26,690$12.834.65
16Registered Nurses2280$60,600$29.131.95
17Fast Food and Counter Workers2030$22,490$10.812.45
18Management Occupations2000$97,220$46.746.35
19Healthcare Support Occupations1970$30,960$14.882.85
20Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks1680$35,070$16.861.05
21Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1450$26,070$12.531.5
22Waiters and Waitresses1330$21,840$10.51.65
23Protective Service Occupations1300$43,860$21.082.2
24Customer Service Representatives1100$29,340$14.111.75
25Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners1040$21,920$10.540.9
26Community and Social Service Occupations1020$41,900$20.141.75
27Computer and Mathematical Occupations1010$65,670$31.573
28Receptionists and Information Clerks1010$27,870$13.40.7
29Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers970$49,200$23.651.2
30Architecture and Engineering Occupations920$69,720$33.521.7
31Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations910$38,710$18.611.8
32Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive870$30,390$14.611.4
33Nursing Assistants860$29,890$14.370.95
34Carpenters850$37,580$18.070.6
35Stockers and Order Fillers810$26,370$12.681.25
36Light Truck Drivers730$32,780$15.760.6
37Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks720$22,500$10.820.15
38Accountants and Auditors680$67,540$32.470.9
39Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations680$61,450$29.540.8
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products650$59,380$28.550.85
41First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers590$49,980$24.030.95
42Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand570$27,010$12.981.8
43General and Operations Managers540$119,210$57.311.5
44Residential Advisors530$25,450$12.240.1
45Bartenders510$22,420$10.780.4
46Maintenance and Repair Workers, General500$38,080$18.310.9
47Cooks, Fast Food490$23,270$11.190.3
48Cooks, Restaurant450$28,110$13.520.9
49Office Clerks, General450$29,080$13.981.9
50Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants430$40,610$19.520.35
51Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers430$27,090$13.030.75
52Food Preparation Workers410$22,220$10.680.5
53Childcare Workers390$22,210$10.680.7
54Dishwashers380$22,070$10.610.3
55Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers370$37,560$18.060.1
56Driver/Sales Workers370$32,250$15.510.3
57Home Health and Personal Care Aides370$27,900$13.420
58Management Analysts360$79,680$38.310.55
59Electricians350$43,720$21.020.45
60Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers340$21,980$10.570.3
61First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers340$34,200$16.440.6
62Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers340$50,340$24.20.4
63Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses330$40,330$19.390.5
64Amusement and Recreation Attendants320$22,230$10.690.2
65Child, Family, and School Social Workers320$40,390$19.420.2
66Insurance Sales Agents310$67,980$32.680.3
67Legal Occupations310$77,930$37.470.8
68Civil Engineers300$75,640$36.360.2
69Cooks, Short Order300$25,750$12.380.1
70Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers300$23,800$11.440.1
71Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators300$46,610$22.410.25
72Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters300$43,930$21.120.3
73Tellers300$30,060$14.450.25
74Construction Laborers290$31,410$15.10.9
75Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria290$28,330$13.620.3
76First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers290$64,550$31.030.4
77Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics270$40,280$19.370.5
78Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity270$27,870$13.40.3
79Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment260$23,980$11.530.3
80Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators260$29,020$13.950.8
81Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other260$69,970$33.640.7
82Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing260$31,050$14.930
83Parts Salespersons250$37,580$18.070.2
84Loan Interviewers and Clerks240$39,370$18.930.1
85Network and Computer Systems Administrators240$65,410$31.450.2
86Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education240$32,300$15.530.3
87Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks240$33,410$16.060.4
88Dental Assistants230$35,290$16.960.2
89First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers230$48,350$23.250.95
90Food Service Managers230$55,270$26.570.2
91Loan Officers220$70,930$34.10.2
92Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers220$39,300$18.890.3
93Highway Maintenance Workers210$39,590$19.030.1
94Security Guards200$33,360$16.040.7
95Correctional Officers and Jailers190$46,840$22.520.25
96Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers190$37,120$17.850.2
97Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors190$44,140$21.220.2
98Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists180$41,940$20.160.2
99Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians180$47,800$22.980.2
100Counter and Rental Clerks180$28,060$13.490.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Rapid City Colleges
Rapid City colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Rapid City Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$42,26065,600
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$32,8009,020
Sales and Related Occupations$35,7908,320
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$23,7407,090
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$75,0105,350
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,8204,690
Construction and Extraction Occupations$40,8304,210
Retail Salespersons$30,9703,300
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$43,3003,280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,7503,120
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$66,4302,860
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,7702,560
Production Occupations$34,6302,510
Cashiers$23,4302,480
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,6902,390
Registered Nurses$60,6002,280
Fast Food and Counter Workers$22,4902,030
Management Occupations$97,2202,000
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,9601,970
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,0701,680
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$26,0701,450
Waiters and Waitresses$21,8401,330
Protective Service Occupations$43,8601,300
Customer Service Representatives$29,3401,100
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$21,9201,040
Community and Social Service Occupations$41,9001,020
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$65,6701,010
Receptionists and Information Clerks$27,8701,010
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,200970
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$69,720920
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$38,710910
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$30,390870
Nursing Assistants$29,890860
Carpenters$37,580850
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,370810
Light Truck Drivers$32,780730
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$22,500720
Accountants and Auditors$67,540680
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$61,450680
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,380650
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$49,980590
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$27,010570
General and Operations Managers$119,210540
Residential Advisors$25,450530
Bartenders$22,420510
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,080500
Cooks, Fast Food$23,270490
Cooks, Restaurant$28,110450
Office Clerks, General$29,080450
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$40,610430

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Rapid City, South Dakota Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$42,26065,600
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$32,8009,020
Sales and Related Occupations$35,7908,320
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$75,0105,350
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$34,8204,690
Construction and Extraction Occupations$40,8304,210
Retail Salespersons$30,9703,300
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$43,3003,280
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,7503,120
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$66,4302,860
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,7702,560
Production Occupations$34,6302,510
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,6902,390
Registered Nurses$60,6002,280
Management Occupations$97,2202,000
Healthcare Support Occupations$30,9601,970
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$35,0701,680
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$26,0701,450
Protective Service Occupations$43,8601,300
Customer Service Representatives$29,3401,100
Community and Social Service Occupations$41,9001,020
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$65,6701,010
Receptionists and Information Clerks$27,8701,010
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$49,200970
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$69,720920
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$38,710910
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$30,390870
Nursing Assistants$29,890860
Carpenters$37,580850
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,370810
Light Truck Drivers$32,780730
Accountants and Auditors$67,540680
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$61,450680
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,380650
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$49,980590
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$27,010570
General and Operations Managers$119,210540
Residential Advisors$25,450530
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$38,080500
Cooks, Restaurant$28,110450
Office Clerks, General$29,080450
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$40,610430
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$27,090430
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$37,560370
Driver/Sales Workers$32,250370
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$27,900370
Management Analysts$79,680360
Electricians$43,720350
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,200340
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$50,340340

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