Dental Salaries in Rapid City, South Dakota

Dentist: a median of $158,140 a year ($76.03 an hour). That is level with the South Dakota dentist median of $158,140 and $12,810 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 2nd of the 2 South Dakota metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $91,890 a year ($44.18 an hour). That is $320 below the South Dakota dental hygienist median of $92,210 and $6,210 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 2 South Dakota metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,850 a year ($23.00 an hour). That is $50 below the South Dakota dental assistant median of $47,900 and $220 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 2 South Dakota metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $45,800 a year ($22.02 an hour). That is $2,570 below the South Dakota dental lab technician median of $48,370 and $3,810 below the national median of $49,610.

Dentist: the middle half of Rapid City dentists earn $103,210 to $195,310. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $94,560 (against $94,560 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $250,780 (against $250,780 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $156,220.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Rapid City dental hygienists earn $78,320 to $93,130. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $70,420 (against $73,480 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $97,590 (against $98,290 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $27,170.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Rapid City dental assistants earn $46,270 to $56,530. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,970 (against $38,190 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $59,030 (against $60,310 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,060.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Rapid City dental lab technicians earn $43,300 to $56,450. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,860 (against $39,420 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $65,990 (against $65,990 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,130.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Rapid City metro's 2024 price level at 89.2 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 10.8% below the national average, and housing costs (index 72.6) run 27.4% below. South Dakota as a whole sits at 88.6.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $158,140 here buys about what $177,370 buys at national average prices — $6,420 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $91,890 here buys about what $103,060 buys at national average prices — $4,960 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $47,850 here buys about what $53,670 buys at national average prices — $5,600 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $45,800 here buys about what $51,370 buys at national average prices — $1,760 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 1.154 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 44% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.44).

Dental Hygienists: about 120 jobs in the metro, or 1.692 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold an 18% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.18).

Dental Assistants: about 320 jobs in the metro, or 4.281 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 72% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.72).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 50 jobs in the metro, or 0.692 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold 3.1 times their national share of local jobs (location quotient 3.13).