Cooks, Restaurant salary in Rapid City, SD
Cooks, Restaurant in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median of $35,910 a year ($17.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 390 workers.
Pay ranges from $30,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,430 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 1% lower than the South Dakota statewide median of $36,220. There are 5.2 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.58). The average (mean) salary is $36,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Rapid City, SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,050 | $14.45 |
| 25th percentile | $33,860 | $16.28 |
| Median | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| 75th percentile | $39,460 | $18.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,430 | $21.36 |
| Average (mean) | $36,770 | $17.68 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $2,992.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,496.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,381.15 |
| Weekly | $690.58 |
| Hourly | $17.26 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $37,310 | 690 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $36,270 | 560 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rapid City, SD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,670 | $14.75 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $32,670 | $15.71 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,190 | $14.99 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,870 | $17.73 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,440 | $14.15 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $29,020 | $13.95 |
| Bartender | $29,500 | $14.18 |
| 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 |
| 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 35-2014. 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 cooks, restaurant make in Rapid City, SD?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $35,910 a year, or $17.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $30,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Rapid City, SD?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn at least $44,430 a year. The top 25% earn $39,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Rapid City, SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $30,050 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $33,860 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Rapid City, SD?
About 390 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Rapid City, SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.