Environmental Engineer salary in Rapid City, SD
Environmental Engineers in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median of $94,370 a year ($45.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,430 for the top 10%. That is 12% lower than the national median of $107,110. Pay here is 5% lower than the South Dakota statewide median of $98,890. There are 0.44 environmental engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $96,150, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for environmental engineers in Rapid City, SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,560 | $30.56 |
| 25th percentile | $94,370 | $45.37 |
| Median | $94,370 | $45.37 |
| 75th percentile | $98,890 | $47.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,430 | $57.42 |
| Average (mean) | $96,150 | $46.23 |
Half of environmental engineers 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 | $7,864.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,932.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,629.62 |
| Weekly | $1,814.81 |
| Hourly | $45.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Environmental Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $102,390 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for environmental engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $130,510 |
| California | $130,410 |
| Oregon | $127,100 |
| Washington | $125,460 |
| Texas | $123,060 |
| Nebraska | $120,620 |
| Idaho | $117,520 |
| Florida | $116,840 |
| Massachusetts | $115,800 |
| Minnesota | $115,750 |
See Environmental Engineer pay in every state or the South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rapid City, SD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,300 | $48.22 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $94,180 | $45.28 |
| Electrical Engineer | $105,330 | $50.64 |
| Industrial Engineer | $81,480 | $39.17 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $58,610 | $28.18 |
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $57,300 | $27.55 |
| Architects, Except Landscape and Naval | $115,600 | $55.58 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $51,940 | $24.97 |
| Surveyor | $78,320 | $37.65 |
More: Architecture and Engineering Occupations · all salaries in Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2081. 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 environmental engineer make in Rapid City, SD?
The median salary for environmental engineers in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $94,370 a year, or $45.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $119,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid environmental engineers make in Rapid City, SD?
The top 10% of environmental engineers in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn at least $119,430 a year. The top 25% earn $98,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for environmental engineers in Rapid City, SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,560 a year, and a quarter of environmental engineers earn $94,370 or less.
How many environmental engineers work in Rapid City, SD?
About 30 environmental engineers are employed in the Rapid City, SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.