Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Rapid City, SD

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

Median annual salary $35,150 -4.6% vs national
Median hourly $16.90
10th percentile $29,770
90th percentile $45,240
Employed locally 350
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Rapid City, SD
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,770
    25th
    $30,850
    50th (median)
    $35,150
    75th
    $38,210
    90th
    $45,240

    Rapid City economic context

    Unemployment rate 1.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,985 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 51% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sioux Falls, SD-MN $36,300
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $36,020
    Gadsden, AL $28,230

    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, Restaurant make per hour in Rapid City?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Rapid City, SD is $16.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.36 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Rapid City, SD is 4.6% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,770 per year in Rapid City, SD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,850.