Paralegals and Legal Assistants Salary in Rapid City, SD

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

Median annual salary $51,440 -15.7% vs national
Median hourly $24.73
10th percentile $46,260
90th percentile $76,830
Employed locally 130
National median $61,010

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Paralegals and Legal Assistants
in
Rapid City, SD
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,260
    25th
    $47,040
    50th (median)
    $51,440
    75th
    $58,550
    90th
    $76,830

    Rapid City economic context

    Unemployment rate 1.80% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $71,985 2023 • Census ACS
    Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary vs area income 71% Median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary is 29% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $99,300
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $97,740
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $85,230
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $84,950
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $80,550
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,240

    Nearby metros — Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sioux Falls, SD-MN $55,240
    Sioux City, IA-NE-SD $51,910
    Gadsden, AL $36,070

    Related occupations in Rapid City, SD

    OccupationMedian salary
    Lawyers $91,460
    Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers $49,450

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Paralegals and Legal Assistants make per hour in Rapid City?

    The median hourly wage for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Rapid City, SD is $24.73, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.25 or more per hour.

    Is Rapid City above or below average for Paralegals and Legal Assistants salaries?

    The median Paralegals and Legal Assistants salary in Rapid City, SD is 15.7% below the national median of $61,010. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Paralegals and Legal Assistants in Rapid City?

    Entry-level Paralegals and Legal Assistants (10th percentile) earn around $46,260 per year in Rapid City, SD. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,040.