Surgical Technologists Salary
The median pay for a surgical technologists in Rapid City, SD is $61,960/year ($29.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.16), which stretches that salary to about $69,493 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,336/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $62K 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 surgical technologists
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What this looks like in Rapid City
Surgical technologists pay in Rapid City tracks closely to the national median, $62K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,336/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for surgical technologists in metros near Rapid City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $54K | $59K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $82K | $78K |
| Omaha | $65K | $71K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $62K | $68K |
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 surgical technologists (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Surgical Technologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Surgical Technologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $83K | +28% | 290 |
| Oregon | $81K | +26% | 1,090 |
| California | $81K | +26% | 11,920 |
| Massachusetts | $81K | +25% | 2,220 |
| Alaska | $80K | +24% | 310 |
| Minnesota | $80K | +24% | 1,770 |
| Connecticut | $80K | +24% | 1,220 |
| New York | $80K | +23% | 6,540 |
| District of Columbia | $78K | +20% | 340 |
| Washington | $77K | +20% | 2,510 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +19% | 2,780 |
| Colorado | $76K | +17% | 2,100 |
| Nevada | $75K | +17% | 1,110 |
| New Hampshire | $75K | +16% | 370 |
| Rhode Island | $74K | +15% | 240 |
| Wisconsin | $74K | +15% | 2,180 |
| Idaho | $73K | +12% | 1,100 |
| Arizona | $72K | +12% | 2,410 |
| Maryland | $69K | +7% | 1,880 |
| Virginia | $68K | +5% | 1,910 |
| Texas | $65K | +1% | 10,160 |
| Illinois | $65K | +0% | 3,570 |
| Indiana | $64K | -1% | 2,680 |
| Georgia | $64K | -1% | 4,380 |
| Nebraska | $64K | -1% | 770 |
| Michigan | $63K | -2% | 3,840 |
| Maine | $63K | -3% | 470 |
| Utah | $63K | -3% | 1,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $63K | -3% | 4,490 |
| Florida | $62K | -3% | 9,120 |
| Ohio | $62K | -3% | 3,730 |
| Delaware | $62K | -4% | 340 |
| South Carolina | $62K | -4% | 2,680 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -5% | 370 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -5% | 1,940 |
| Missouri | $61K | -5% | 2,100 |
| Montana | $61K | -6% | 490 |
| North Carolina | $61K | -6% | 4,400 |
| Vermont | $61K | -6% | 140 |
| Kansas | $61K | -6% | 1,200 |
| Iowa | $61K | -6% | 950 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -6% | 3,310 |
| Kentucky | $60K | -6% | 1,440 |
| South Dakota | $60K | -7% | 600 |
| Wyoming | $59K | -9% | 210 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -11% | 1,640 |
| Louisiana | $57K | -11% | 2,230 |
| New Mexico | $52K | -20% | 540 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -23% | 1,110 |
| Alabama | $49K | -24% | 2,480 |
| West Virginia | $49K | -24% | 580 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track surgical technologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rapid City numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a surgical technologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rapid City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 30.9% 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 $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for surgical technologists in Rapid City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new surgical technologists typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,719/month. At HUD’s $1,336/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is surgical technologist a high-paying job in Rapid City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $62K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Rapid City compare to the national average for surgical technologists?
Rapid City pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do surgical technologists make in Rapid City, SD?
The median is $61,960 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,310, and experienced surgical technologists can clear $75,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Rapid City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,319/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,336/month, which eats 30.9% 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 surgical technologists 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 surgical technologists salary is worth about $69,493 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do surgical technologists 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.