Cooks, Short Order salary in Rapid City, SD
Cooks, Short Order in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median of $32,670 a year ($15.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 420 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,590 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 1% higher than the South Dakota statewide median of $32,380. There are 5.6 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,060, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Rapid City, SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,810 | $13.85 |
| 25th percentile | $29,830 | $14.34 |
| Median | $32,670 | $15.71 |
| 75th percentile | $35,580 | $17.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $42,590 | $20.48 |
| Average (mean) | $34,060 | $16.38 |
Half of cooks, short order 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 | $2,722.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,361.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,256.54 |
| Weekly | $628.27 |
| Hourly | $15.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $35,570 | 660 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $33,880 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order 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, Restaurant | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Rapid City, SD?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $32,670 a year, or $15.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $42,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Rapid City, SD?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn at least $42,590 a year. The top 25% earn $35,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Rapid City, SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,810 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $29,830 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Rapid City, SD?
About 420 cooks, short order are employed in the Rapid City, SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.