Bartender salary in Rapid City, SD
Bartenders in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median of $29,500 a year ($14.18 an hour), based on BLS data for 700 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,480 for the top 10%. That is 14% lower than the national median of $34,340. Pay here is about the same as the South Dakota statewide median of $29,400. There are 9.5 bartenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $32,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bartenders in Rapid City, SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,680 | $13.31 |
| 25th percentile | $28,220 | $13.57 |
| Median | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| 75th percentile | $34,780 | $16.72 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| Average (mean) | $32,760 | $15.75 |
Half of bartenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $2,458.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,229.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,134.62 |
| Weekly | $567.31 |
| Hourly | $14.18 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bartender salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $30,180 | 1,260 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $23,750 | 430 |
Highest-paying states for bartenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,490 |
| New York | $61,210 |
| Washington | $55,830 |
| District of Columbia | $53,920 |
| Maine | $48,920 |
| Virginia | $47,070 |
| Vermont | $45,450 |
| Arizona | $45,070 |
| New Jersey | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $38,900 |
See Bartender pay in every state or the South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rapid City, SD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,440 | $14.15 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,020 | $13.95 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $30,570 | $14.70 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,670 | $15.71 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,190 | $14.99 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,870 | $17.73 |
| Dishwasher | $28,390 | $13.65 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,350 | $23.24 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Rapid City, SD?
The median salary for bartenders in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $29,500 a year, or $14.18 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bartenders make in Rapid City, SD?
The top 10% of bartenders in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn at least $41,480 a year. The top 25% earn $34,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for bartenders in Rapid City, SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,680 a year, and a quarter of bartenders earn $28,220 or less.
How many bartenders work in Rapid City, SD?
About 700 bartenders are employed in the Rapid City, SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.