Foresters Salary in Rapid City, SD
Foresters in Rapid City, SD make a median of $63,510 a year, or about $30.53 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.16), which stretches that salary to about $71,231 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,336/month — about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $64K 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 foresters
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rapid City, SD
Entry-level foresters (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Foresters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $99K | +40% | 830 |
| Alaska | $86K | +21% | 80 |
| Iowa | $81K | +14% | 50 |
| Maryland | $80K | +13% | 90 |
| Louisiana | $80K | +13% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $79K | +12% | 100 |
| Connecticut | $79K | +11% | 80 |
| Michigan | $78K | +10% | 320 |
| Oregon | $77K | +9% | 670 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | +9% | 270 |
| South Carolina | $77K | +9% | 110 |
| New York | $77K | +9% | 280 |
| Vermont | $76K | +8% | 100 |
| Illinois | $75K | +6% | 170 |
| Washington | $74K | +5% | 980 |
| Minnesota | $72K | +2% | 200 |
| Texas | $71K | +1% | 200 |
| Alabama | $71K | +1% | 300 |
| North Carolina | $70K | -0% | 240 |
| Wyoming | $69K | -2% | 50 |
| Virginia | $69K | -2% | 350 |
| Tennessee | $69K | -2% | 140 |
| Ohio | $69K | -2% | 150 |
| Utah | $69K | -2% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -7% | 570 |
| Arkansas | $66K | -7% | 120 |
| Arizona | $66K | -7% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $66K | -7% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | -7% | 270 |
| Montana | $64K | -9% | 260 |
| Kansas | $64K | -10% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $64K | -10% | 50 |
| South Dakota | $64K | -10% | 110 |
| Georgia | $63K | -10% | 240 |
| Missouri | $63K | -11% | 110 |
| Idaho | $62K | -12% | 290 |
| Maine | $62K | -13% | 120 |
| District of Columbia | $61K | -13% | 70 |
| West Virginia | $57K | -19% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $55K | -23% | 110 |
| Indiana | $54K | -24% | 140 |
| Florida | $50K | -29% | 540 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -31% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track foresters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rapid City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do foresters make in Rapid City, SD?
The median is $63,510 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,580, and experienced foresters can clear $82,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Rapid City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,422/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,336/month, which eats 30.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a foresters 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 foresters salary is worth about $71,231 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do foresters 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.