Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Rapid City, SD

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Rapid City, SD

Median annual salary $30,400 +0.8% vs national
Median hourly $14.61
10th percentile $28,880
90th percentile $36,530
Employed locally 200
National median $30,160

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Rapid City, SD
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $28,880
    25th
    $29,710
    50th (median)
    $30,400
    75th
    $32,530
    90th
    $36,530

    Rapid City economic context

    Unemployment rate 1.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,985 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sioux Falls, SD-MN $30,360
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $28,620
    Gadsden, AL $22,410

    Related occupations in Rapid City, SD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,220
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,140
    Food Preparation Workers $30,220
    Bartenders $28,490
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $38,390
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $29,060

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Fast Food make per hour in Rapid City?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Rapid City, SD is $14.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $16.68 or more per hour.

    Is Rapid City above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Rapid City, SD is 0.8% above the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Rapid City?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $28,880 per year in Rapid City, SD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,710.