Firefighters Salary in Rapid City, SD

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

Median annual salary $48,160 -19.1% vs national
Median hourly $23.15
10th percentile $36,050
90th percentile $68,220
Employed locally 220
National median $59,530

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Firefighters
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Rapid City, SD
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,050
    25th
    $48,160
    50th (median)
    $48,160
    75th
    $59,800
    90th
    $68,220

    Rapid City economic context

    Unemployment rate 1.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,985 2023 • Census ACS
    Firefighters salary vs area income 67% Median Firefighters salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Firefighters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $164,940
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,270
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $108,320
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $105,250
    Vallejo, CA $104,460
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $102,220

    Nearby metros — Firefighters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $60,630
    Sioux Falls, SD-MN $50,130
    Gadsden, AL $37,070

    Related occupations in Rapid City, SD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $59,230
    Security Guards $36,450
    Correctional Officers and Jailers $48,680
    Detectives and Criminal Investigators $77,440
    Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers $34,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives $104,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Firefighters make per hour in Rapid City?

    The median hourly wage for Firefighters in Rapid City, SD is $23.15, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $32.80 or more per hour.

    Is Rapid City above or below average for Firefighters salaries?

    The median Firefighters salary in Rapid City, SD is 19.1% below the national median of $59,530. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Firefighters in Rapid City?

    Entry-level Firefighters (10th percentile) earn around $36,050 per year in Rapid City, SD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $48,160.