Atmospheric and Space Scientists Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric and space scientists in Rapid City, SD is $104,380/year ($50.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.16), which stretches that salary to about $117,070 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,336/month, or 19.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $104K get you in Rapid City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Rapid City’s Regional Price Parity (89.16). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About atmospheric and space scientists
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What this looks like in Rapid City
Atmospheric and space scientists pay in Rapid City tracks closely to the national median, $104K locally vs. $99K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,336/month, 19.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.16 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for atmospheric and space scientists in metros near Rapid City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $77K | $84K |
| Omaha | $61K | $66K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $126K | $120K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rapid City, SD
Entry-level atmospheric and space scientists (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $129K | +30% | 750 |
| California | $125K | +26% | 510 |
| Hawaii | $121K | +22% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $120K | +21% | 60 |
| Idaho | $119K | +21% | 50 |
| New York | $118K | +19% | 370 |
| Florida | $116K | +17% | 270 |
| Arizona | $115K | +16% | 80 |
| Missouri | $114K | +15% | 160 |
| Illinois | $112K | +13% | 110 |
| Oregon | $112K | +13% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $110K | +11% | 60 |
| Nevada | $109K | +10% | 120 |
| Kansas | $109K | +10% | 80 |
| Montana | $109K | +10% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $108K | +9% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $106K | +7% | 50 |
| Colorado | $105K | +6% | 1,150 |
| District of Columbia | $104K | +5% | 70 |
| Maine | $104K | +5% | 50 |
| Indiana | $104K | +5% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $103K | +4% | 100 |
| Michigan | $103K | +4% | 150 |
| Wyoming | $100K | +1% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $97K | -2% | 70 |
| Georgia | $97K | -2% | 170 |
| Utah | $97K | -3% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $96K | -3% | 230 |
| Washington | $94K | -5% | 190 |
| Alaska | $94K | -5% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $92K | -8% | 170 |
| North Dakota | $92K | -8% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $86K | -13% | 280 |
| Connecticut | $85K | -14% | 50 |
| Texas | $85K | -14% | 720 |
| Virginia | $84K | -15% | 350 |
| South Carolina | $82K | -17% | 150 |
| Alabama | $81K | -18% | 340 |
| West Virginia | $81K | -19% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $79K | -20% | 130 |
| Ohio | $79K | -21% | 160 |
| Iowa | $77K | -22% | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $76K | -23% | 420 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | -23% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $72K | -27% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $61K | -39% | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $43K | -57% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track atmospheric and space scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rapid City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric and space scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rapid City?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 19.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,336/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric and space scientists in Rapid City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric and space scientists typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,056/month. At HUD’s $1,336/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is atmospheric and space scientist a high-paying job in Rapid City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $104K locally vs. $99K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Rapid City compare to the national average for atmospheric and space scientists?
Rapid City pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $99K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $117K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make in Rapid City, SD?
The median is $104,380 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,600, and experienced atmospheric and space scientists can clear $115,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Rapid City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,818/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,336/month, which eats 19.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a atmospheric and space scientists salary go in Rapid City?
Rapid City has a Regional Price Parity of 89.16 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median atmospheric and space scientists salary is worth about $117,070 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do atmospheric and space scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.