Motorcycle Mechanics Salary
The median pay for a motorcycle mechanics in Rapid City, SD is $46,390/year ($22.31/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.16), which stretches that salary to about $52,030 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,336/month, about 40% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $46K 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 motorcycle mechanics
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What this looks like in Rapid City
Motorcycle mechanics pay in Rapid City tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $49K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,336/month, which is 40.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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 motorcycle mechanics in metros near Rapid City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $47K | $52K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $60K | $58K |
| Bismarck | $57K | $63K |
| Omaha | $50K | $54K |
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 motorcycle mechanics (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Motorcycle Mechanics pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Motorcycle Mechanics salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $63K | +29% | 130 |
| Nevada | $60K | +24% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $59K | +22% | 260 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +20% | 350 |
| Oregon | $58K | +19% | 160 |
| Maryland | $58K | +19% | 170 |
| California | $57K | +17% | 1,730 |
| Colorado | $57K | +17% | 420 |
| New York | $55K | +13% | 270 |
| Texas | $53K | +10% | 1,170 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +7% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $52K | +7% | 100 |
| Washington | $52K | +7% | 300 |
| Nebraska | $50K | +3% | 40 |
| North Dakota | $50K | +3% | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $50K | +3% | 490 |
| Virginia | $49K | +2% | 300 |
| Vermont | $49K | +1% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +1% | N/A |
| Florida | $49K | +0% | 730 |
| North Carolina | $49K | +0% | 440 |
| Maine | $48K | -0% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -1% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | -1% | 550 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -3% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -3% | 320 |
| Montana | $47K | -3% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -4% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $46K | -4% | 200 |
| Hawaii | $46K | -5% | 30 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -6% | 160 |
| Alaska | $46K | -6% | 220 |
| Indiana | $45K | -6% | 430 |
| Iowa | $45K | -8% | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -8% | 240 |
| Ohio | $44K | -9% | 520 |
| Arizona | $44K | -9% | 240 |
| Utah | $44K | -10% | 170 |
| Idaho | $43K | -11% | 130 |
| Georgia | $43K | -11% | 250 |
| Alabama | $43K | -12% | 270 |
| Illinois | $42K | -14% | 290 |
| Michigan | $40K | -17% | 310 |
| Wyoming | $40K | -19% | 70 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -23% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track motorcycle mechanics salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rapid City numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a motorcycle mechanic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rapid City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 40.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,336/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for motorcycle mechanics in Rapid City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new motorcycle mechanics typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,204/month. At HUD’s $1,336/month FMR, rent would take 61% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is motorcycle mechanic a high-paying job in Rapid City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $49K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Rapid City compare to the national average for motorcycle mechanics?
Rapid City pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do motorcycle mechanics make in Rapid City, SD?
The median is $46,390 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,740, and experienced motorcycle mechanics can clear $72,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Rapid City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,276/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,336/month, which eats 40.8% 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 motorcycle mechanics 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 motorcycle mechanics salary is worth about $52,030 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do motorcycle mechanics 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.