Forklift operator pay in Rapid City, SD at a glance
Median salary
$45,930$22.08 per hour · $3,828 monthly · BLS May 2025Run the numbers on your own pay
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Forklift operator salary in Rapid City, SD after taxes
Forklift operators 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.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly | Yearly | After tax a year (SD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $15.25/hr | $2,643 | $31,720 | $27,667 |
| 25th percentile | $19.35/hr | $3,354 | $40,250 | $34,521 |
| MedianMedian | $22.08/hr | $3,828 | $45,930 | $39,085 |
| 75th percentile | $26.74/hr | $4,635 | $55,620 | $46,871 |
| 90th percentile | $32.34/hr | $5,605 | $67,260 | $56,147 |
Is $45,930 a good salary in Rapid City, SD?
It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for forklift operators next to both.
Forklift operators pay in South Dakota and across the U.S.
The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.
Forklift operator pay in Rapid City, SD: common questions
What is the median salary for forklift operators in Rapid City, SD?
The BLS median annual wage for forklift operators in the Rapid City, SD metro area was $45,930 in May 2025, about $3,828 a month or $22.08 an hour. Statewide, the South Dakota median for this job is $47,410, so the metro pays 3% below the state.
What is the hourly pay for forklift operators in Rapid City, SD?
The median hourly wage for forklift operators in Rapid City, SD was $22.08 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.25 an hour and one in ten earned more than $32.34.
How many forklift operators work in Rapid City, SD?
BLS estimated 190 jobs for forklift operators in the metro in May 2025, or 2.6 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 0.52 means the job is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole.
What is the pay range for forklift operators in Rapid City, SD?
BLS wage estimates for forklift operators in Rapid City, SD run from $31,720 at the 10th percentile to $40,250 at the 25th, $55,620 at the 75th, and $67,260 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.
How much do forklift operators take home after taxes in Rapid City, SD?
On a median gross salary of $45,930, an estimated $39,085 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,503 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in South Dakota in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,845 (an effective rate of 14.9%).
How much do forklift operators make per month in Rapid City, SD?
On the median annual salary of $45,930, gross monthly income is $3,828. After federal, FICA, and South Dakota state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,257 per month (or $1,503 every two weeks).
Is $45,930 a good salary in Rapid City, SD?
At $45,930, the median salary for forklift operators is 61% of the Rapid City, SD median household income ($75,255). It is 1% below 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.