What this means Our calculation
7 of 27 trades here pay more than the typical U.S. metro; the best-paid is electrical lineworkers at $95,220. Prices run 11% below the U.S. average, so a paycheck here is worth more than the same dollars elsewhere. For the wider job market, unemployment is lower than most metros (2.0%) and the population is growing faster than most (+6.2% since 2020).
Highest-paying trades in Rapid City Government data
All 27 trades
Vs. U.S. compares with the typical metro for that trade. Jobs are employment estimates, not open positions. Click a column to sort.
| Trade | Median pay | Vs. U.S. | Real pay | Jobs | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Lineworker | $95,220 | -2% | $106,797 | 120 | #140 |
| Construction Supervisor | $77,900 | +1% | $87,371 | 470 | #174 |
| Building Inspector | $72,470 | +8% | $81,281 | 40 | #127 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $63,890 | +0% | $71,658 | 90 | #193 |
| Diesel Mechanic | $62,700 | +4% | $70,323 | 160 | #113 |
| HVAC Technician | $61,430 | +3% | $68,899 | 360 | #143 |
| Electrician | $61,160 | -2% | $68,596 | 460 | #225 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | $60,660 | +2% | $68,035 | 410 | #177 |
| Telecom Equipment Installer | $59,250 | -5% | $66,454 | 70 | #243 |
| Auto Mechanic | $58,980 | +21% | $66,151 | 360 | #52 |
| Plumber | $55,850 | -9% | $62,640 | 360 | #299 |
| Welder | $51,690 | -1% | $57,974 | 200 | #204 |
| Telecom Line Installer | $49,460 | -25% | $55,473 | 110 | #218 |
| Ironworker | $49,100 | -23% | $55,070 | 170 | #133 |
| Carpenter | $48,640 | -13% | $54,554 | 870 | #295 |
| Concrete Finisher | $48,300 | -16% | $54,172 | 470 | #240 |
| Drywall Installer | $47,980 | -11% | $53,813 | 60 | #125 |
| Machinist | $47,840 | -16% | $53,656 | 70 | #333 |
| Auto Body Repairer | $47,750 | -8% | $53,555 | 160 | #291 |
| Maintenance Technician | $47,110 | -3% | $52,838 | 550 | #238 |
| Painter | $46,900 | -2% | $52,602 | 110 | #209 |
| Glazier | $46,820 | -15% | $52,512 | 90 | #135 |
| Roofer | $46,510 | -7% | $52,165 | 120 | #214 |
| Insulation Installer | $45,760 | -5% | $51,323 | 40 | #87 |
| Construction Laborer | $45,630 | -3% | $51,178 | 410 | #231 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $44,280 | -28% | $49,664 | 70 | #264 |
| Landscaper | $34,840 | -7% | $39,076 | 630 | #342 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Living costs & homes Government data
Homes in Rapid City
The Rapid City area has about 71,958 homes. 44% were built before 1980 (typical metro 45%), so its housing is about as old as most; 20% were built in 2010 or later. 72% of households own their home, and the median home value is $361,100.
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table DP04).
Working outdoors in Rapid City Government data
In an average year, Rapid City has 32 days at 90°F or hotter (about typical; typical metro 33), including 5 at 100°F or more, 174 nights below freezing (typical 90) and 41 days with a tenth of an inch of rain or more, and 48 inches of snow. Summer afternoons average 83°F and winter nights 14°F. That matters for outdoor trades: heat and freezes shape the working season and the hours.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 averages, Rapid City Rgnl Airport, SD station. Compare cities on outdoor work weather.
Job market & growth Government data
Unemployment
2.0% in 2025 (typical metro 4.1%), all workers.
BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2021–2025.
Population
The Rapid City area's population grew 6.2% from 2020 to 2025 (147,800 → 156,934), ranking #76 of 387 metros for growth (typical metro +2.5%). People moving in (net +7,848) account for most of the change.
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year, 2020–2025.
New homes permitted
New-home permits in Rapid City are down 39% from 2021 to 2025 (1,562 → 958). Permits signal construction activity, not open jobs.
Census Building Permits Survey, 2021–2025.
Getting to work
The average commute in the Rapid City area is 21 minutes each way, shorter than the typical metro (24 min). 8% of commuters spend 45 minutes or more. 78% drive alone, 0% take transit and 8% work from home (all workers, not just trades).
Census American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates (table S0801).
Licensing in South Dakota Official source
The main state licensing office in South Dakota is the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. The state licenses electricians and plumbers. It can point you to the right license for skilled trades.
Official South Dakota licensing site ↗
Requirements for skilled trades vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Union membership
In 2025, 2.3% of wage and salary workers in South Dakota were union members, below the U.S. rate of about 10% (#51 of 51 states and D.C.), and 3.1% were covered by a union contract. These figures cover all jobs in the state, not only the trades.
BLS Union Members, 2025 (Current Population Survey), table 5.
Nearby metros
Compare any trade in two cities with city vs. city, or see every metro in South Dakota.