Machinist salary in Rapid City, SD
Machinists in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn a median of $47,840 a year ($23.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,370 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 6% lower than the South Dakota statewide median of $50,890. There are 0.94 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.51). The average (mean) salary is $51,410, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in Rapid City, SD
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| 25th percentile | $45,180 | $21.72 |
| Median | $47,840 | $23.00 |
| 75th percentile | $57,320 | $27.56 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Average (mean) | $51,410 | $24.72 |
Half of machinists 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 | $3,986.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,993.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,840 |
| Weekly | $920 |
| Hourly | $23.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Machinist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $56,350 | 80 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $52,000 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for machinists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 |
| Alaska | $77,670 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| Oregon | $63,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 |
| Vermont | $62,680 |
| Delaware | $62,650 |
See Machinist pay in every state or the South Dakota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rapid City, SD
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,690 | $24.85 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $37,180 | $17.87 |
| Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers | $30,880 | $14.85 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $70,290 | $33.79 |
| Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,850 | $22.53 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $40,760 | $19.60 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $37,060 | $17.82 |
| Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | $38,970 | $18.74 |
| Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator | $52,190 | $25.09 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,310 | $23.22 |
| Baker | $37,690 | $18.12 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Rapid City, SD
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-4041. 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 machinist make in Rapid City, SD?
The median salary for machinists in the Rapid City, SD metro area is $47,840 a year, or $23.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Rapid City, SD?
The top 10% of machinists in the Rapid City, SD metro area earn at least $61,370 a year. The top 25% earn $57,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Rapid City, SD?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,650 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $45,180 or less.
How many machinists work in Rapid City, SD?
About 70 machinists are employed in the Rapid City, SD metro area, not counting the self-employed.