Rapid City, SD metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does an auto mechanic make in Rapid City, SD?

In the Rapid City, SD metropolitan area, auto mechanics earned a median of $58,980 a year ($28.36 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 360 of these jobs there. That is 27% above the $46,270 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $38,740 and $78,670; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and South Dakota tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $49,570 in take-home pay.

Auto mechanic pay in Rapid City, SD at a glance

Median salary

$58,980$28.36 per hour · $4,915 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$38,740$18.62/hr
25th percentile$43,780$21.05/hr
75th percentile$62,170$29.89/hr
90th percentile$78,670$37.82/hr
Jobs in this metro360Location quotient 1.08 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here27% aboveAll-jobs median $46,270
Against South Dakota15% aboveStatewide median $51,160
Against the U.S.17% aboveNational median $50,620

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Auto mechanic salary in Rapid City, SD after taxes

$58,980
$20,000$120,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$58,980
Net 84%
Fed 8%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$49,570After all taxes
Monthly deposit$4,131Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,907Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate16%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$4,898 / yr
South Dakota state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$4,512 / yr

Auto mechanics pay range in Rapid City, SD, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Rapid City, SD metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What auto mechanics earned in the Rapid City, SD metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (SD)
10th percentile$18.62/hr$3,228$38,740$33,308
25th percentile$21.05/hr$3,648$43,780$37,357
MedianMedian$28.36/hr$4,915$58,980$49,570
75th percentile$29.89/hr$5,181$62,170$52,134
90th percentile$37.82/hr$6,556$78,670$64,174

Is $58,980 a good salary in Rapid City, SD?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for auto mechanics next to both.

Median household income$75,255Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)89.210.8% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household78.4%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Auto mechanic pay in Rapid City, SD: common questions

What is the median salary for auto mechanics in Rapid City, SD?

The BLS median annual wage for auto mechanics in the Rapid City, SD metro area was $58,980 in May 2025, about $4,915 a month or $28.36 an hour. Statewide, the South Dakota median for this job is $51,160, so the metro pays 15% above the state.

What is the hourly pay for auto mechanics in Rapid City, SD?

The median hourly wage for auto mechanics in Rapid City, SD was $28.36 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $18.62 an hour and one in ten earned more than $37.82.

How many auto mechanics work in Rapid City, SD?

BLS estimated 360 jobs for auto mechanics in the metro in May 2025, or 4.9 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.08 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for auto mechanics in Rapid City, SD?

BLS wage estimates for auto mechanics in Rapid City, SD run from $38,740 at the 10th percentile to $43,780 at the 25th, $62,170 at the 75th, and $78,670 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do auto mechanics take home after taxes in Rapid City, SD?

On a median gross salary of $58,980, an estimated $49,570 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,907 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Dakota in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $9,410 (an effective rate of 16%).

How much do auto mechanics make per month in Rapid City, SD?

On the median annual salary of $58,980, gross monthly income is $4,915. After federal, FICA, and South Dakota state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $4,131 per month (or $1,907 every two weeks).

Is $58,980 a good salary in Rapid City, SD?

At $58,980, the median salary for auto mechanics is 78.4% of the Rapid City, SD median household income ($75,255). It is 27% above the $46,270 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 89.2, so prices here run 10.8% below the U.S. average.